Control of innate fear response via anterior cingulate cortex projection to the amygdala

Abstract

Prefrontal brain areas are implicated in the control of fear behavior. However, it has been unknown how prefrontal circuits control fear response to innate threat. In this study, based on projection-specific optogenetic manipulation, circuit tracing, and electrophysiology experiments, I report the critical function of a projection from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to basolateral amygdala (BLA) controlling innate freezing behavior of mice responding to predator odor.