Work

Role of Dorsal Periaqueductal Grey in Instinctive Defensive Behavior

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: To survive, animals have to finely regulate their threat assessment and escape behavior. In mice, the brainstem dorsal periaqueductal grey (dPAG) generates innate defensive behaviors towards a multitude of threats, like predators, prey and aggressive conspecifics. dPAG acts as a switchboard between forebrain areas like the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the brainstem. Glutamatergic neurons in the ACC project to dPAG and have an inhibitory effect on the structure, promoting approach. In dPAG, separate neuron ensembles correlate with risk assessment or with escape.

Source: IBRO Neuroscience Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.08.1682

Authors: Irene Pilar Ayuso Jimeno, Paolo Ronchi, Tianzi Wang, Catherine Gallori, Cornelius Gross

Institutions: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,500