Theta Activity in Brain Circuits During Fear Extinction
Author Information
Author(s): Lesting Jörg, Narayanan Rajeevan T., Kluge Christian, Sangha Susan, Seidenbecher Thomas, Pape Hans-Christian
Primary Institution: Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
Hypothesis
Theta coupling provides a means for inter-areal coordination in conditioned behavioral responsiveness.
Conclusion
Theta oscillations contribute to a population code indicating conditioned stimuli during recall of fear memory before and after extinction.
Supporting Evidence
- Theta oscillations occurred with high specificity in the CA1-LA-mPFC network.
- Theta coupling increased during retrieval of conditioned fear and declined during extinction learning.
- Interfering with theta coupling affected conditioned fear and extinction recall depending on theta phase.
Takeaway
The study shows that brain waves called theta oscillations help different parts of the brain work together when we remember and forget fears.
Methodology
The study used local field potential and unit recordings in freely behaving mice during a fear conditioning paradigm.
Participant Demographics
Male C57Bl/6J mice, aged 8 to 12 weeks.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.000001
Statistical Significance
p<0.000001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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