Hippocampal-hypothalamic circuit controls context-dependent innate defensive responses

Preys use their memory - where they sensed a predatory threat and whether a safe shelter is nearby - to dynamically control their survival instinct to avoid harm and reach safety. However, it remains unknown which brain regions are involved, and how such top-down control of innate behavior is implem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:eLife 2022-04, Vol.11
Main Authors: Bang, Jee Yoon, Sunstrum, Julia Kathryn, Garand, Danielle, Parfitt, Gustavo Morrone, Woodin, Melanie, Inoue, Wataru, Kim, Junchul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
behavior
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Brain
conditioned defense
Fear - physiology
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus - physiology
innate fear
Instinct
Male
Mice
neural circuit
Neural Pathways - physiology
Neuroscience
optogenetics
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Summary:Preys use their memory - where they sensed a predatory threat and whether a safe shelter is nearby - to dynamically control their survival instinct to avoid harm and reach safety. However, it remains unknown which brain regions are involved, and how such top-down control of innate behavior is implemented at the circuit level. Here, using adult male mice, we show that the anterior hypothalamic nucleus (AHN) is best positioned to control this task as an exclusive target of the hippocampus (HPC) within the medial hypothalamic defense system. Selective optogenetic stimulation and inhibition of hippocampal inputs to the AHN revealed that the HPC→AHN pathway not only mediates the contextual memory of predator threats but also controls the goal-directed escape by transmitting information about the surrounding environment. These results reveal a new mechanism for experience-dependent, top-down control of innate defensive behaviors.
ISSN:2050-084X
2050-084X
DOI:10.7554/eLife.74736