Reward-related coherence between the basolateral amygdala and nucleus accumbens Öffentlichkeit

Abstract

The basolateral complex (BLC) of the amygdala plays an important role in processing emotional information. Specifically, the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a subnucleus of the BLC, integrates the majority of the sensory information and sends projections to other brain structures in the limbic system, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The BLA is involved in processing both negative and positive emotional information. Importantly, abnormal neural activities in the BLA were reported after acute and chronic stress, including hyper-excitability and neural oscillations at 2-4 Hz. On the other hand, the BLAàNAc projection can promote reward-seeking behavior. We hypothesized that the BLA and NAc coordinate neural activity upon the presentation of reward-associated cues. This dissertation first reports that BLA-NAc coherence in the theta band (5-8 Hz) increases in response to food-associated cues. Meanwhile, the modulatory strength of theta-gamma (50-110 Hz) phase amplitude cross-frequency coupling (PAC) in the NAc decreases, and both neuromodulations disappear upon extinction. Interestingly, access to a novel conspecific enhanced power in theta and gamma oscillations in both the BLA and NAc, but we identified no changes in theta coherence. Together, these findings suggest a role for theta-frequency synchronization between the BLA and NAc in processing select, but not all, reward-related information and suggest that theta oscillations may mediate communication between the BLA and NAc during exposure to reward-related cues. Finally, I proposed three potential future directions to extend our understanding of the functional role of BLA-NAc theta coherence in reward-related processing. 

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BASOLATERAL COMPLEX OF THE AMYGDALA: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

CHAPTER 2: AMYGDALO-STRIATAL COHERENCE WITH REWARD-RELATED CUES

CHAPTER 3: CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

APPENDIX: PUBLICATIONS TO WHICH THE AUTHOR HAS CONTRIBUTED

REFERENCES

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Subfield / Discipline	Neuroscience
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Nanoscience Psychology, Physiological
Stichwort	coherence amygdala nucleus accumbens neural oscillations reward
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Shannon L. Gourley, Emory University
Committee Members	Larry J. Young, Emory University Samuel J. Sober, Emory University Nael A. McCarty, Emory University Joseph R. Manns, Emory University

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