Role of anterior thalamus and its cortical targets in conditioned defensive behavior to the social defeat context

• Grant number: 12/13804-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Newton Sabino Canteras
• Grantee: Miguel José Rangel Junior
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/26742-6 - Role of the dorsal premammillary nucleus and its main targets in the expression of innate defensive responses and the acquisition of contextual fear memory during social defeat, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Animals present risk assessment behaviors when exposed to the environments where they had been socially defeated, a response called contextual defense to social defeat. In the present work, we aim to explore the putative paths that mediate these responses. Similar to what has been shown for anti-predatory defense, the dorsal premammillary nucleus is critical for social defense and, at the same time, is likely to be involved in the processing of contextual memory through its projections to the ventral part of the anteromedial thalamic nucleus (AMv). We are presently proposing a study first to test whether the AMv is involved in the acquisition and/or expression of contextual defense to social threat. Next, we will examine how the AMv's cortical targets, namely, the anterior cingulate and retrosplenial areas, fit in the process of encoding and/or expression of contextual defense to social defeat. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RANGEL JUNIOR, Miguel José. Role of the lateral hypothalamus and anterior thalamus in memory in social defeat.. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.