Optogenetic activation of presynaptic inputs in lateral amygdala forms associative fear memory

MGm (Medial geniculate complex, medial part) MBA:1088 projects to BLA (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:295 · Mouse

After ChR2-Venus expression in the auditory thalamus (co-injected with auditory cortex), only a few labelled axons were seen in the basal amygdala, and its fluorescence was not significantly above piriform-cortex background.

Fig. 1D,E; Results, first section

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

AUDv (Ventral auditory area) MBA:1018 functionally connects to LA glutamatergic principal neurons nt-659aayyts5 · Mouse

Photostimulation of ChR2-expressing auditory cortical axons in the LA evoked glutamatergic EPSCs in LA pyramidal cells, with 79% of recorded neurons responding when only AuV was infected (84% when AuV and MGm were both infected, N = 50 cells). EPSCs were blocked by kynurenic acid, and in vivo photostimulation of AuV evoked LA field potentials at a 12-ms latency, which were strongly reduced by intra-LA kynurenic acid.

Fig. 2A (bottom), Fig. 2B, Fig. 4A; Results, sections 2 and 4

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AUDv (Ventral auditory area) MBA:1018 projects to CEA (Central amygdalar nucleus) MBA:536 · Mouse

No appreciable ChR2-Venus axonal fluorescence from the auditory cortical injection was found in the central amygdala; intensity there was indistinguishable from background.

Fig. 1E; Results, first section

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

AUDv (Ventral auditory area) MBA:1018 projects to LA (Lateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:131 · Mouse

AAV-ChR2-Venus injected into the ventral secondary auditory cortex labelled cortical neurons and yielded strong fibre and terminal fluorescence in the lateral amygdala, significantly above the piriform-cortex background in both dorsal and ventral LA (n = 10 mice). Thalamic and cortical injections were combined in the same mice.

Fig. 1C–E; Results, first section

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

AUDv (Ventral auditory area) MBA:1018 projects to BLA (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:295 · Mouse

ChR2-Venus labelling from the auditory cortex injection (combined with the thalamic injection) produced only sparse axonal label in the basal amygdala, whose fluorescence did not differ significantly from background.

Fig. 1D,E; Results, first section

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

MGm (Medial geniculate complex, medial part) MBA:1088 functionally connects to LA glutamatergic principal neurons nt-659aayyts5 · Mouse

Light pulses applied to ChR2-expressing thalamic axons within the LA evoked EPSCs in LA pyramidal cells; when only MGm was infected, 89% of recorded LA pyramidal neurons responded (84% with combined MGm+AuV infection, N = 50 cells). The responses were abolished by the broad glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid in slices and reduced to ~15% of control by in vivo kynurenic acid infusion. In vivo, photostimulation of MGm produced field potentials in LA with a 12-ms latency.

Fig. 2A (bottom), Fig. 2B, Fig. 4A; Results, sections 2 and 4

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

MGm (Medial geniculate complex, medial part) MBA:1088 projects to LA (Lateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:131 · Mouse

AAV-ChR2-Venus injected into the medial geniculate/posterior intralaminar region labelled somata at the injection site and produced strong axonal/terminal fluorescence in the lateral amygdala, with significantly higher intensity in both dorsal and ventral LA than in the piriform cortex background (n = 10 mice). The thalamic and cortical injections were made in the same animals, so the LA label reflects the combined auditory afferents.

Fig. 1C–E; Results, first section

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

MGm (Medial geniculate complex, medial part) MBA:1088 projects to CEA (Central amygdalar nucleus) MBA:536 · Mouse

Fluorescence from the ChR2-Venus labelled auditory thalamic projection was barely detectable in the central amygdala and did not differ from the piriform-cortex background level.

Fig. 1E; Results, first section

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