Journal article
A dopaminergic switch for fear to safety transitions
Nature Communications, Vol.9(1), Art. 2483
2018
Abstract
Overcoming aversive emotional memories requires neural systems that detect when fear responses are no longer appropriate so that they can be extinguished. The midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine system has been implicated in reward and more broadly in signaling when a better-than-expected outcome has occurred. This suggests that it may be important in guiding fear to safety transitions. We report that when an expected aversive outcome does not occur, activity in midbrain dopamine neurons is necessary to extinguish behavioral fear responses and engage molecular signaling events in extinction learning circuits. Furthermore, a specific dopamine projection to the nucleus accumbens medial shell is partially responsible for this effect. In contrast, a separate dopamine projection to the medial prefrontal cortex opposes extinction learning. This demonstrates a novel function for the canonical VTA-dopamine reward system and reveals opposing behavioral roles for different dopamine neuron projections in fear extinction learning.
Details
- Title
- A dopaminergic switch for fear to safety transitions
- Authors/Creators
- R. Luo (Author/Creator)A. Uematsu (Author/Creator)A. Weitemier (Author/Creator)L. Aquili (Author/Creator)J. Koivumaa (Author/Creator)T.J. McHugh (Author/Creator)J.P. Johansen (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Nature Communications, Vol.9(1), Art. 2483
- Publisher
- Springer
- Identifiers
- 991005541019907891
- Copyright
- © 2018 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
4 File views/ downloads
31 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.5 Neuroscience
- 1.5.1090 Fear Conditioning
- Web Of Science research areas
- Neurosciences
- ESI research areas
- Neuroscience & Behavior