美国哥伦比亚大学Rui M. Costa和Paolo Botta团队合作发现杏仁核回路在探索过程中介导与经验有关的瞬时逮捕。该研究于2020年10月7日发表于国际一流学术期刊《细胞》上。

使用空间探索测定法，他们发现在先前逮捕动物的地点，瞬时逮捕的经验依赖增加。自由探索的小鼠中钙成像显示了基底外侧杏仁核的遗传和投射定义的神经元集合，该集合在自定步调的行为逮捕中活跃。以经验依赖的方式招募了该集合，并且对这些神经元的闭环光遗传学操作显示，它们在探索过程中足以驱动依赖经验的逮捕。

特定于投射的成像和光遗传学实验表明，这些逮捕是由投射到中央杏仁核的基底外侧杏仁核神经元实现的，他们发现了杏仁核回路，该回路在熟悉的地方介导了短暂的逮捕，但并未避免或避免焦虑或类似恐惧的行为。

据悉，探索新颖的环境可确保生存和进化适应性。它是根据探索经验和动态变化来表现的。因此，介导探索行为的神经回路应该整合经验，并利用它来选择适当的行为输出。

附：英文原文

Title: An Amygdala Circuit Mediates Experience-Dependent Momentary Arrests during Exploration

Author: Paolo Botta, Akira Fushiki, Ana Mafalda Vicente, Luke A. Hammond, Alice C. Mosberger, Charles R. Gerfen, Darcy Peterka, Rui M. Costa

Issue&Volume: 2020-10-07

Abstract: Exploration of novel environments ensures survival and evolutionary fitness. It isexpressed through exploratory bouts and arrests that change dynamically based on experience.Neural circuits mediating exploratory behavior should therefore integrate experienceand use it to select the proper behavioral output. Using a spatial exploration assay,we uncovered an experience-dependent increase in momentary arrests in locations whereanimals arrested previously. Calcium imaging in freely exploring mice revealed a geneticallyand projection-defined neuronal ensemble in the basolateral amygdala that is activeduring self-paced behavioral arrests. This ensemble was recruited in an experience-dependentmanner, and closed-loop optogenetic manipulation of these neurons revealed that theyare sufficient and necessary to drive experience-dependent arrests during exploration.Projection-specific imaging and optogenetic experiments revealed that these arrestsare effected by basolateral amygdala neurons projecting to the central amygdala, uncoveringan amygdala circuit that mediates momentary arrests in familiar places but not avoidanceor anxiety/fear-like behaviors.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.023

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31164-8