Department of Brain & Cognitive SCIENCES
Faculty

Research Highlights

2024 Persistent enhancement of basolateral amygdala-dorsomedial striatum synapses causes compulsive-like behaviors in mice

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작성자 최고관리자 작성일 24-07-03 16:21

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Professor
Jeehyun Kwag
Authors
In Bum Lee, Eugene Lee, Na-Eun Han, Marko Slavuj, Jeong Wook Hwang, Ahrim Lee, Taeyoung Sun, Yehwan Jeong, Ja-Hyun Baik, Jae-Yong Park, Se-Young Choi, Jeehyun Kwag, Bong-June Yoon
Journal
Nature Communications
Journal Info
15(1)
Year
2024

Compulsive behaviors are observed in a range of psychiatric disorders, however the neural substrates underlying the behaviors are not clearly defined. In this study, through neural circuit dissections and in vitro whole-cell recordings, activating the basolateral amygdala-dorsomedial striatum (BLA-DMS) circuit was found to lead to compulsive-like behaviors. BLA neurons projecting to the DMS, particularly those targeting dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons, overlapped significantly with neurons responsive to aversive stress. Optogenetic activation of this circuit triggered strong anxiety and compulsive grooming in mice. Furthermore, chronic activation of the BLA-DMS circuit in a mouse model resulted in a range of compulsive behaviors and persistent molecular changes at BLA-DMS synapses. These findings demonstrate that the BLA-DMS circuit plays a crucial role in the development of long-lasting compulsive behaviors through enduring synaptic modifications.

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