Data for: Dorsal premammillary projection to periaqueductal gray controls escape vigor from innate and conditioned threats

Escape from threats has paramount importance for survival. However, it is
unknown if a single circuit controls escape from innate and conditioned
threats. The hypothalamic dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMd) may control
escape, as it is strongly activated by escape-inducing threats and
projects to the region most implicated in escape, the dorsolateral
periaqueductal gray (dlPAG). We show that in mice cholecystokinin
(cck)-expressing PMd cells are activated during escape, but not other
defensive behaviors. PMd-cck ensemble activity can also predict future
escape. Furthermore, PMd inhibition decreases escape speed from both
innate and conditioned threats. Inhibition of the PMd-cck projection to
the dlPAG also decreased escape speed. Lastly, human fMRI data show that a
posterior hypothalamic-to-dlPAG pathway increases activity during exposure
to aversive images, indicating that a similar pathway may possibly have a
related role in humans. Our data identify the PMd as a central node of the
escape network.