Recall Circuitry Shifts as Fear Memory Ages (IMAGE)

NIH/National Institute of Mental Health

Recall Circuitry Shifts as Fear Memory Ages

Caption

Although rats' behavior did not change over time following fear conditioning, the underlying circuitry activated to retrieve the fear memory shifted, perhaps increasing its staying power. An initial circuit from the pre-limbic prefrontal cortex to the basolateral amygdala was supplanted, a week later, by a circuit to the central amygdala via the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. It's thought that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus may serve to integrate fear with other adaptive responses. The discovery may provide clues to improved treatments for anxiety disorders.

Credit

Gregory Quirk, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

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