1. Amygdala-hippocampus somatostatin interneuron beta-synchrony underlies a cross-species biomarker of emotional state.
- Author
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Jackson, Adam D., Cohen, Joshua L., Phensy, Aarron J., Chang, Edward F., Dawes, Heather E., and Sohal, Vikaas S.
- Subjects
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INTERNEURONS , *EMOTIONAL state , *SOMATOSTATIN , *BIOMARKERS , *AMYGDALOID body , *NEURONS - Abstract
Emotional responses arise from limbic circuits including the hippocampus and amygdala. In the human brain, beta-frequency communication between these structures correlates with self-reported mood and anxiety. However, both the mechanism and significance of this biomarker as a readout vs. driver of emotional state remain unknown. Here, we show that beta-frequency communication between ventral hippocampus and basolateral amygdala also predicts anxiety-related behavior in mice, both on long timescales (∼30 min) and immediately preceding behavioral choices. Genetically encoded voltage indicators reveal that this biomarker reflects synchronization between somatostatin interneurons across both structures. Indeed, synchrony between these neurons dynamically predicts approach-avoidance decisions, and optogenetically shifting the phase of synchronization by just 25 ms is sufficient to bidirectionally modulate anxiety-related behaviors. Thus, back-translation establishes a human biomarker as a causal determinant (not just predictor) of emotional state, revealing a novel mechanism whereby interregional synchronization that is frequency, phase, and cell type specific controls emotional processing. [Display omitted] • Amygdala-hippocampus (HPC) β-synchrony tracks emotional state in humans and mice • This biomarker reflects synchronization between SST+ neurons in the BLA and HPC • Manipulating BLA-HPC SST+ neuron β-synchrony bidirectionally alters anxiety behavior • BLA-SST+ neurons directly inhibit ventral HPC SST+ interneurons Examining a synchrony-based biomarker for emotional state previously identified in humans, Jackson et al. validate the same biomarker in mice, finding that it depends on amygdala and hippocampus somatostatin neurons, which are linked by direct connections. They show that this biomarker is a causal driver (not just readout) of behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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