Respiratory-Limbic Coupling via a Thalamic Circuit Alleviates Anxiety - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #anxiety
- #neuroscience
- #respiratory
- A neural circuit linking the preBötzinger complex (preBötC) to the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) and central amygdala (CeA) modulates anxiety in mice.
- Photostimulation of the preBötC→PVT circuit reduces anxiety-like behaviors and respiratory variability, while inhibition worsens them.
- The anxiolytic effect is mediated by PVT projections that excite centrolateral amygdala neurons, inhibiting centromedial amygdala output.
- Voluntary slow breathing reduces anxiety in humans and suppresses anxiety-related oscillations in the amygdala of epilepsy patients.
- The study identifies a conserved respiratory-limbic circuit explaining the anxiolytic effects of controlled breathing.