Flexible inhibitory control of visually evoked defensive behavior by the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus

Fratzl, Alex; Koltchev, Alice M.; Vissers, Nicole; Tan, Yu Lin; Marques-Smith, André; Stempel, A. Vanessa; Branco, Tiago; Hofer, Sonja B.

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.003

Cited by 52 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…In dLGN, transcriptional, morphological, and functional studies have been viable to parse interneurons into more than just one or two subtypes (Charalambakis et al, 2019; Leist et al, 2016), making it difficult to study the specificity for loss of Gad1 + cells in this retinorecipient brain region. In contrast, vLGN contains numerous transcriptionally distinct GABAergic cell types (including both local interneurons and projection neurons), some of which exhibit regional preferences, unique morphologies, and distinct connectivity (Fratzl et al, 2021; Sabbagh et al, 2021; Salay and Huberman, 2021). Thus, RGC-derived SHH may affect specific subtypes of GABAergic cells in vLGN.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sonic hedgehog-dependent recruitment of GABAergic interneurons into the developing visual thalamus

Somaiya

Stebbins

Xie

et al. 2022

Preprint

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SummaryAxons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) play critical roles in the development of inhibitory circuits in visual thalamus. We previously reported that RGC axons signal astrocytes to induce the expression of fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15), a motogen required for GABAergic interneuron migration into visual thalamus. However, how retinal axons induce thalamic astrocytes to generate Fgf15 and influence interneuron migration remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that impairing RGC activity had no impact on interneuron recruitment into mouse visual thalamus. Instead, our data show that retinal-derived sonic hedgehog (SHH) is essential for interneuron recruitment. Specifically, we show that thalamus-projecting RGCs express SHH and thalamic astrocytes generate downstream components of SHH signaling. Deletion of RGC-derived SHH leads to a significant decrease in Fgf15 expression, as well as in the percentage of interneurons recruited into visual thalamus. Thus, our findings identify a morphogen-dependent neuron-astrocyte signaling mechanism essential for the migration of thalamic interneurons.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sonic hedgehog-dependent recruitment of GABAergic interneurons into the developing visual thalamus

Somaiya

Stebbins

Xie

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…The PAG is one of the major outputs of the SC and is responsible of defining the threshold to compute escape responses (Branco and Redgrave, 2020; Evans et al, 2018), which is almost absent in HD conditions. Interestingly, increased GABAergic tone from the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (Fratzl et al, 2021) or the substantia nigra reticulata (Almada et al, 2018) reduces escape responses in the BMT, suggesting that increased GABAergic activity in the SC could lead to the altered behavioural responses in HD mice. Further, SC - PAG circuit is shaped by multimodal sensory information and learning experiences, which are constantly updated throughout the life of the animal (Evans et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered M2 Cortex - Superior Colliculus visual perception circuit in Huntington’s Disease

Conde-Berriozabal

García-Gilabert

García-García

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The premotor cortical area -M2 cortex in rodents- connection to the striatum is involved in movement and prominently affected in Huntington’s Disease (HD). M2 cortex also projects to the superior colliculus (SC), implicated in oculomotor functions (i.e. saccades) and visual perception. Here, we investigated the contribution of M2 cortex – SC circuit to HD physiopathology in male mice. Using fMRI, we observed that M2 cortex functional connectivity with the SC was the most prominently affected circuit in the symptomatic R6/1 HD mouse model. Structural alterations were also detected by tractography and viral tracing. HD mice showed decreased defensive behavioral responses towards an unexpected visual stimuli, such as a moving robo-beetle, and decreased locomotion upon unexpected flash of light. Additionally, optogenetic M2 cortex – SC stimulation promoted avoidance responses towards the robo-beetle in WT, but not HD mice. Though, DWI measurements in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological responses to optogenetic and electrical stimuli in the SC suggested preserved brain structure. Finally, GCamp6f fluorescence recordings with fiber photometry indicated that aberrant M2 cortex engagement might be the underlying mechanism of visual perception alterations in HD. Collectively, our findings point to a key role of M2 cortex - SC circuit alterations in HD pathophysiology.

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“…Due to the presence of certain inhibiting or dampening structures, all threats or triggering memories do not create the same reaction. For example, there are inhibiting structures in the thalamus that set a threshold for the sensitivity depending on a person's past experiences [26]. They engage when threats are uncertain, resulting in behavioral inhibition and risk assessment [27].…”

Section: Nature Of the Stress Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating the Complementary Therapies of Energy Psychology and Dreamwork – the Dream to Freedom Method

Hoss¹,

Hoss²,

Church³

2022

OBM ICM

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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the integration of dreamwork and Energy Psychology (EP) can enhance outcomes in the treatment of a range of psychological disorders. The therapeutic process often begins with a peeling away of emotional layers until underlying issues surface. When utilizing dreamwork, however, it is possible to begin at a deeper level. Because dreams address salient unresolved emotional conflicts, dreamwork can quickly bring into consciousness previously unconscious emotional issues that are at the source of psychological difficulties. Utilizing techniques from energy psychology to process the material that emerges in dreams is a particularly potent way of engaging the emotional content of the dream and utilizing it to inform the dreamer’s self-understanding and direction. Energy Psychology, in its most frequently utilized format, the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), combines imaginal exposure and cognitive restructuring with the somatic stimulation of acupuncture points by tapping on them. More than 100 clinical trials demonstrate the unusual speed and clinical efficacy of EFT. The authors of this paper have combined dreamwork and EFT into a therapeutic protocol we call the Dream to Freedom (DTF) method. In addition to providing theoretical underpinnings of the approach, we present details of the use of the DTF protocol with seven subjects. In each case, underlying stressful memories triggering psychological symptoms were revealed, and the stress reaction to those specific memories was minimized or eliminated. In all seven case reports, DTF appears to have provided a systematic protocol for enhancing the emotional problem-solving function of dreams, providing each subject with insight towards creating future action steps.

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Flexible inhibitory control of visually evoked defensive behavior by the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus

Cited by 52 publications

References 81 publications

Sonic hedgehog-dependent recruitment of GABAergic interneurons into the developing visual thalamus

Sonic hedgehog-dependent recruitment of GABAergic interneurons into the developing visual thalamus

Altered M2 Cortex - Superior Colliculus visual perception circuit in Huntington’s Disease

Integrating the Complementary Therapies of Energy Psychology and Dreamwork – the Dream to Freedom Method

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