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Independent hypothalamic circuits for social and predator fear.

ABSTRACT: The neural circuits mediating fear to naturalistic threats are poorly understood. We found that functionally independent populations of neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a region that has been implicated in feeding, sex and aggression, are essential for predator and social fear in mice. Our results establish a critical role for VMH in fear and have implications for selective intervention in pathological fear in humans.

SUBMITTER: Silva BA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4194278 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Independent hypothalamic circuits for social and predator fear.

Silva Bianca A BA Mattucci Camilla C Krzywkowski Piotr P Murana Emanuele E Illarionova Anna A Grinevich Valery V Canteras Newton S NS Ragozzino Davide D Gross Cornelius T CT

Nature neuroscience 20131110 12

The neural circuits mediating fear to naturalistic threats are poorly understood. We found that functionally independent populations of neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a region that has been implicated in feeding, sex and aggression, are essential for predator and social fear in mice. Our results establish a critical role for VMH in fear and have implications for selective intervention in pathological fear in humans. ...[more]

PMID: 24212674

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