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The central amygdala controls learning in the lateral amygdala.

ABSTRACT: Experience-driven synaptic plasticity in the lateral amygdala is thought to underlie the formation of associations between sensory stimuli and an ensuing threat. However, how the central amygdala participates in such a learning process remains unclear. Here we show that PKC-?-expressing central amygdala neurons are essential for the synaptic plasticity underlying learning in the lateral amygdala, as they convey information about the unconditioned stimulus to lateral amygdala neurons during fear conditioning.

SUBMITTER: Yu K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5755715 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The central amygdala controls learning in the lateral amygdala.

Yu Kai K Ahrens Sandra S Zhang Xian X Schiff Hillary H Ramakrishnan Charu C Fenno Lief L Deisseroth Karl K Zhao Fei F Luo Min-Hua MH Gong Ling L He Miao M Zhou Pengcheng P Paninski Liam L Li Bo B

Nature neuroscience 20171023 12

Experience-driven synaptic plasticity in the lateral amygdala is thought to underlie the formation of associations between sensory stimuli and an ensuing threat. However, how the central amygdala participates in such a learning process remains unclear. Here we show that PKC-δ-expressing central amygdala neurons are essential for the synaptic plasticity underlying learning in the lateral amygdala, as they convey information about the unconditioned stimulus to lateral amygdala neurons during fear ...[more]

PMID: 29184202

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