Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning

Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE
Jessica E ChildsSven Kroener

Abstract

Extinction describes the process of attenuating behavioral responses to neutral stimuli when they no longer provide the reinforcement that has been maintaining the behavior. There is close correspondence between fear and human anxiety, and therefore studies of extinction learning might provide insight into the biological nature of anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and they might help to develop strategies to treat them. Preclinical research aims to aid extinction learning and to induce targeted plasticity in extinction circuits to consolidate the newly formed memory. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a powerful approach that provides tight temporal and circuit-specific release of neurotransmitters, resulting in modulation of neuronal networks engaged in an ongoing task. VNS enhances memory consolidation in both rats and humans, and pairing VNS with exposure to conditioned cues enhances the consolidation of extinction learning in rats. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the preparation of custom-made parts and the surgical procedures required for VNS in rats. Using this protocol we show how VNS can facilitate the extinction of conditioned fear responses in an auditory fear conditioning task. ...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 24, 2019·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Rimenez R SouzaChrista K McIntyre
Aug 10, 2018·Psychopharmacology·Lindsey J NobleChrista K McIntyre
Jun 19, 2019·Learning & Memory·Lindsey J NobleChrista K McIntyre
May 28, 2019·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Sophie C PayneJames B Fallon
Jun 24, 2019·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·Aaron DingleAaron J Suminski

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