A hypothalamic-thalamostriatal circuit that controls approach-avoidance conflict in rats

D. S. Engelke; X. O. Zhang; J. J. O’Malley; J. A. Fernandez-Leon; S. Li; G. J. Kirouac; M. Beierlein; F. H. Do-Monte

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22730-y

Nature Communications (May 2021)

A hypothalamic-thalamostriatal circuit that controls approach-avoidance conflict in rats

D. S. Engelke,
X. O. Zhang,
J. J. O’Malley,
J. A. Fernandez-Leon,
S. Li,
G. J. Kirouac,
M. Beierlein,
F. H. Do-Monte

Affiliations

D. S. Engelke: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
X. O. Zhang: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
J. J. O’Malley: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
J. A. Fernandez-Leon: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
S. Li: Department of Oral Biol., University of Manitoba
G. J. Kirouac: Department of Oral Biol., University of Manitoba
M. Beierlein: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
F. H. Do-Monte: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22730-y
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 19

Abstract

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Animals constantly balance seeking food with avoiding predators. Here, the authors report that CRF positive neurons in the paraventricular thalamus projecting to the nucleus accumbens in rats are an indispensable component of a feedback circuit that can interrupt appetitive behaviour in favor of a defensive response in the presence of a competing threat stimulus.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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