jojolab.bsky.social
Japan based neuroscientist, Team Leader at RIKEN Center for Brain Science, studying the neural basis of emotional learning & memory, adventure cyclist
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Thanks!
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Thanks!
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Thanks Francesco! Yes, there is definitely synergy of ideas here. I'd love to talk more about it.
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Thanks Alicia! Would love to hear what you think
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Thanks David!
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Thanks Tim! The good old days are now:)
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Thanks Tom!
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Thanks Keri!
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Thanks Andrew!
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Thanks Vinny!
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🙏
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🙏
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Great study, congrats! And perfect timing 😉
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These findings reveal a neural coding and circuit-based mechanism for model-based emotional processing in dmPFC, opening a new path for emotion research and establishing a conceptual framework for studying the brain mechanisms of higher order emotions in health and disease. (8/8)
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Finally, we discovered that a specific population of mPFC neurons which project to the amygdala specifically encode and are required for recall of inferred emotional memories, but not memories for stimuli which were directly associated with aversive events (7/8)
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We also identified a novel coding/plasticity mechanism for forming these types of internal models. While sensory-sensory learning doesn't affect population coding, it tags a specific population of mPFC neurons which are then captured during aversive learning and used for inferred memory recall.(6/8)
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Unlike areas like the hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex, mPFC population activity did not encode sensory-sensory associations alone. Dramatic changes in mPFC representational structure were only apparent following aversive learning (5/8)
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We found that mPFC neurons encode a flexible internal model of emotional associations, boosting and linking mPFC representations of aversive events with representations of stimuli which were directly or indirectly associated with them. (4/8)
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We used longitudinal miniscope calcium imaging and optogenetics to examine whether and, if so, how prelimbic mPFC neurons encode internal models of emotion which reflect sensory-sensory associations and their direct or indirect relationship with an aversive experience (3/8)
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Emotions are rich and complex, often arising from internal brain models which evaluate situations in the context of our life experience. While we understand simple forms of emotional learning involving areas like amygdala, the mechanisms of complex emotions are unclear. (2/8)
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Congrats Kate and crew, fantastic study!