| First Author | Wolff SB | Year | 2014 |
| Journal | Nature | Volume | 509 |
| Issue | 7501 | Pages | 453-8 |
| PubMed ID | 24814341 | Mgi Jnum | J:210595 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5571509 | Doi | 10.1038/nature13258 |
| Citation | Wolff SB, et al. (2014) Amygdala interneuron subtypes control fear learning through disinhibition. Nature 509(7501):453-8 |
| abstractText | Learning is mediated by experience-dependent plasticity in neuronal circuits. Activity in neuronal circuits is tightly regulated by different subtypes of inhibitory interneurons, yet their role in learning is poorly understood. Using a combination of in vivo single-unit recordings and optogenetic manipulations, we show that in the mouse basolateral amygdala, interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SOM) bidirectionally control the acquisition of fear conditioning--a simple form of associative learning--through two distinct disinhibitory mechanisms. During an auditory cue, PV(+) interneurons are excited and indirectly disinhibit the dendrites of basolateral amygdala principal neurons via SOM(+) interneurons, thereby enhancing auditory responses and promoting cue-shock associations. During an aversive footshock, however, both PV(+) and SOM(+) interneurons are inhibited, which boosts postsynaptic footshock responses and gates learning. These results demonstrate that associative learning is dynamically regulated by the stimulus-specific activation of distinct disinhibitory microcircuits through precise interactions between different subtypes of local interneurons. |
