The central amygdala recruits mesocorticolimbic circuitry for pursuit of reward or pain

CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to PAG (Periaqueductal gray) UBERON:0003040 · Rat

CeA ChR2 stimulation was associated with lower Fos in ventrolateral periaqueductal gray: more than 200% reduction below normal tissue baseline in reward-pursuing rats, and markedly lower counts than in eYFP controls (which showed over 400% elevation) in the shock-rod situation, so CeA activation changed PAG activity in the negative direction.

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5; Supplementary Table 1

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CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to AI (Agranular insular area) UBERON:0034893 · Rat

CeA ChR2 stimulation was followed by increased Fos in far-posterior insular cortex (over 500% above baseline in the sucrose/cocaine group and over 250% above eYFP controls in the shock-rod group).

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5

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CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to LHA (Lateral hypothalamic area) UBERON:0002430 · Rat

Fos counts in the perifornical area of lateral hypothalamus were raised more than 200% in CeA ChR2 rats attracted to the shock rod relative to eYFP controls.

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5

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CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) UBERON:0002691 · Rat

Optogenetic ChR2 excitation of CeA paired with reward or shock-rod encounters was followed by strongly raised Fos protein counts in the ventral tegmental area (over 800% above baseline in the sucrose/cocaine group, over 400% above eYFP controls in the shock-rod group, mainly in the caudal VTA), indicating that CeA activation drives activity in VTA, although the effect may be indirect and behaviourally mediated.

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5; Supplementary Table 1

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5) agrees.

CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to BLA (basal amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002887 · Rat

Fos in basolateral amygdala was reduced in CeA ChR2 rats (over 200% below normal baseline in the reward group), and eYFP controls avoiding the shock rod had about 240% higher basolateral amygdala Fos than CeA ChR2 rats, indicating CeA activation suppressed basolateral amygdala activity.

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5; Supplementary Table 1

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5) agrees.

CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to CTX (Cerebral cortex) UBERON:0000956 · Rat

Medial orbitofrontal cortex showed about 175% elevation of Fos-positive neurons in CeA ChR2 rats attracted to the shock rod compared with eYFP controls.

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5

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CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to ACB (Nucleus accumbens) UBERON:0001882 · Rat

CeA ChR2 stimulation paired with sucrose/cocaine pursuit or with shock-rod attraction was followed by elevated Fos in the rostromedial quadrant of nucleus accumbens medial shell (over 700% above baseline in the reward group; over 180% above eYFP in the shock-rod group), whereas caudal medial shell showed no significant change.

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5; Supplementary Table 1

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5) agrees.

CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to SNc (Substantia nigra, compact part) UBERON:0001965 · Rat

After CeA ChR2 stimulation paired with shock-rod encounters, Fos expression in substantia nigra pars compacta was raised roughly 200% above eYFP control levels, consistent with recruitment of midbrain dopamine neurons by CeA activation.

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Fig. 5

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5) agrees.

CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to ILA (Infralimbic area) UBERON:8440033 · Rat

Infralimbic cortex Fos differed across groups, with CeA ChR2 shock-rod rats showing significantly more Fos-positive neurons than eYFP controls after the final shock-rod session.

Fig. 5 caption

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CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to CP (Caudoputamen) UBERON:0005383 · Rat

Rats given CeA ChR2 stimulation showed elevated Fos counts in neostriatum, especially its dorsolateral quadrant (about 500% above baseline in the reward group and about 200% elevation in the shock-rod group).

Results, 'Shock-rod attraction activates mesocorticolimbic circuity'; Supplementary Table 1

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5) agrees.

CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 functionally connects to PALv (Pallidum, ventral region) UBERON:0002778 · Rat

Fos counts in ventral pallidum did not differ between CeA ChR2 rats, eYFP controls and homecage baseline rats after shock-rod sessions, so no change in ventral pallidal activity followed CeA stimulation.

Fig. 5 caption

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5) agrees.