Encoding and context-dependent control of reward consumption within the central nucleus of the amygdala
Kurt M. Fraser,
Tabitha H. Kim,
Matilde Castro,
Céline Drieu,
Yasmin Padovan-Hernandez,
Bridget Chen,
Fiona Pat,
David J. Ottenheimer,
Patricia H. Janak
Affiliations
Kurt M. Fraser
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218, MD, USA
Tabitha H. Kim
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218, MD, USA
Matilde Castro
Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA
Céline Drieu
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218, MD, USA
Yasmin Padovan-Hernandez
Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA
Bridget Chen
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218, MD, USA
Fiona Pat
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218, MD, USA
David J. Ottenheimer
Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA
Patricia H. Janak
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218, MD, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins University Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: Dysregulation of the central amygdala is thought to underlie aberrant choice in alcohol use disorder, but the role of central amygdala neural activity during reward choice and consumption is unclear. We recorded central amygdala neurons in male rats as they consumed alcohol or sucrose. We observed activity changes at the time of reward approach, as well as lick-entrained activity during ongoing consumption of both rewards. In choice scenarios where rats could drink sucrose, alcohol, or quinine-adulterated alcohol with or without central amygdala optogenetic stimulation, rats drank more of stimulation-paired options when the two bottles contained identical options. Given a choice among different options, central amygdala stimulation usually enhanced consumption of stimulation-paired rewards. However, optogenetic stimulation during consumption of the less-preferred option, alcohol, was unable to enhance alcohol intake while sucrose was available. These findings indicate that the central amygdala contributes to refining motivated pursuit toward the preferred available option.
