Cortical Representations of Affective Pain Shape Empathic Fear in Male Mice

-Codes and example datasets related to Choi et al., (2024) Nature Communications
-Source Data related to Choi et al., (2024) Nature Communications
-Original figures (Fig. 5, Fig. 6) related to Choi et al., (2024) Nature Communications
Here, using miniature endoscopic calcium imaging, we identify distinct and dynamic neural ensembles in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that encode observational fear across both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in male mice. Notably, we find that the population dynamics encoding vicarious freezing information are conserved in ACC pyramidal neurons and are specifically represented by affective, rather than sensory, responses to direct pain experience. Furthermore, using circuit-specific imaging and optogenetic manipulations, we show that distinct populations of ACC neurons projecting to the periaqueductal gray (PAG), but not to the basolateral amygdala (BLA), selectively convey affective pain information and regulate observational fear.

- 与Choi等（2024）发表于《自然·通讯》的研究相关的代码及示例数据集
- 与Choi等（2024）发表于《自然·通讯》的研究相关的源数据
- 与Choi等（2024）发表于《自然·通讯》的研究相关的原图（图5、图6）
本研究借助微型内窥镜钙成像技术，在雄性小鼠的前扣带回皮层（anterior cingulate cortex, ACC）中鉴定出独特且动态的神经集群，该集群可在兴奋性与抑制性神经元中编码观察性恐惧行为。值得注意的是，我们发现编码替代性冻结信息的群体动态在前扣带回皮层锥体神经元中具有保守性，且其特异性地通过对直接疼痛体验的情感（而非感官）反应进行表征。此外，通过环路特异性成像与光遗传操控实验，我们证实：向中脑导水管周围灰质（periaqueductal gray, PAG）而非基底外侧杏仁核（basolateral amygdala, BLA）投射的前扣带回皮层神经元亚群，能够选择性传递情感性疼痛信息，并调控观察性恐惧行为。