Divergent BLA engram circuits orchestrate social preference dynamics in bystander male mice with self-experienced stress - PubMed
3 days ago
- #social behavior
- #neuroscience
- #engram cells
- A mouse model combining self-experienced and vicarious social defeat stress shows social preference with stress-experienced cagemates and avoidance of aggressors.
- Basolateral amygdala engram cells (BLAEC) are crucial for social preference and avoidance behaviors, confirmed by chemogenetic manipulations.
- BLAEC projections to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) modulate social preference dynamics.
- Distinct BLA-ACC circuit projections to the ventral/dorsal hippocampus and zona incerta influence these behaviors differently in male mice.
- Findings suggest BLAEC's divergent circuits regulate social preference dynamics, potentially underlying social psychopathologies.