Defining the neuronal micro-circuitry of fear

We use an interdisciplinary approach to address the question how amygdala microcircuits mediate the acquisition and extinction of conditioned fear responses. In my talk, I will describe how switches in the activity between distinct types of neurons located in the basal and central nuclei of the amygdala underlie context-dependent expression and extinction of fear memories. Moreover, I will present recent data demonstrating that functionally distinct types of amygdala neurons are specifically embedded and precisely connected both within the local circuitry and within larger-scale neuronal networks. Thus, in contrast to previous models suggesting that amygdala neurons are active during states of high fear and inactive during states of low fear, our findings indicate that activity in specific neuronal circuits within the amygdala cause opposite behavioral outcomes and provide a new framework for understanding context-dependent expression and extinction of fear behavior.