2017/12/27 榎本

Bo Liらの仕事を中心に、いま現在の扁桃体……特に中心核（CeA）をとりまく嫌悪学習／可塑性に関わる神経回路の理解と、そこに至るまでの歴史をご紹介いたします。役者もいろいろ、論文も沢山ありますが、大事なところを見極めていきましょう。

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2017/12/13 榎本

Optogenetic Inhibition Reveals Distinct Roles for Basolateral Amygdala Activity at Discrete Time Points during Risky Decision Making
Orsini CA, Hernandez CM, Singhal S, Kelly KB, Frazier CJ, Bizon JL, Setlow B
J Neurosci. 2017 Nov 29;37(48):11537-11548. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2344-17.2017. Epub 2017 Oct 27

ラットにSmall & Safe rawardかLarge & Risky rewardかを選ばせる課題を用い、扁桃体BLAを光刺激で抑制したときに、光刺激のタイミングによって真逆の効果が見られることを報告しています。

Abstract

Decision making is a multifaceted process, consisting of several distinct phases that likely require different cognitive operations. Previous work showed that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a critical substrate for decision making involving risk of punishment; however, it is unclear how the BLA is recruited at different stages of the decision process. To this end, the current study used optogenetics to inhibit the BLA during specific task phases in a model of risky decision making (risky decision-making task) in which rats choose between a small, “safe” reward and a large reward accompanied by varying probabilities of footshock punishment. Male Long–Evans rats received intra-BLA microinjections of viral vectors carrying either halorhodopsin (eNpHR3.0-mCherry) or mCherry alone (control) followed by optic fiber implants and were trained in the risky decision-making task. Laser delivery during the task occurred during intertrial interval, deliberation, or reward outcome phases, the latter of which was further divided into the three possible outcomes (small, safe; large, unpunished; large, punished). Inhibition of the BLA selectively during the deliberation phase decreased choice of the large, risky outcome (decreased risky choice). In contrast, BLA inhibition selectively during delivery of the large, punished outcome increased risky choice. Inhibition had no effect during the other phases, nor did laser delivery affect performance in control rats. Collectively, these data indicate that the BLA can either inhibit or promote choice of risky options, depending on the phase of the decision process in which it is active.

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参考に、ここ数年の扁桃体関連論文リストです。