LeDoux Lab 2009 SfN Abstracts |
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Program#/Poster#: |
479.19/FF120 |
Title: |
Stimulation of amygdala
beta-adrenergic receptors enhances acquisition of fear conditioning |
Location: |
South Hall A |
Presentation Time: |
Monday, Oct 19, 2009, 3:00
PM - 4:00 PM |
Authors: |
*E. M. CAPAROSA,
D. E. A. BUSH, J. E. LEDOUX;
Ctr. for Neural Sci., New York Univ., New York, NY |
Abstract: |
Recent work has demonstrated
that blockade of beta-noradrenergic receptors in the lateral amygdala (LA),
a region of the brain critical for fear learning, disrupts fear memory acquisition
and reconsolidation. The present experiment evaluated whether or not direct
stimulation of LA beta-adrenergic receptors with isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic
agonist, can enhance the strength of fear conditioning under conditions
that normally support only weak fear learning. In Pavlovian auditory fear
conditioning an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US; e.g. footshock) is
paired with an initially neutral auditory conditioned stimulus (CS; e.g.
a tone), which endows the CS with the capacity to elicit conditioned fear
responses. To test the effects of LA beta-adrenergic stimulation on fear
conditioning, rats were exposed to a mild fear conditioning protocol, and
given pre-conditioning infusions of isoproterenol or vehicle. Results showed
that pre-conditioning intra-LA isoproterenol enhanced fear memory acquisition.
The results support the hypothesis that fear memory formation is enhanced
under conditions of high levels of beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation
in the amygdala. Evaluation of the ways in which noradrenergic function
can modulate the strength of fear learning provides insight to the potential
role of noradrenaline in anxiety disorders, with specific relevance to post-traumatic
stress disorder. |
Support: |
R37 MH038774 |
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P50 MH058911 |
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R01 MH046516 |
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