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Mind over matter: Amygdala circuit counteracts pain-driven emotion

Study identifies brain pathway that may control negative emotion during stress

Date:
June 25, 2018
Source:
Society for Neuroscience
Summary:
Two pathways in the brain converging at the amygdala regulate the anxiety and depression that often accompanies chronic pain, suggests research in male rats. One of these pathways may represent a top-down mechanism that controls negative emotion under stress.
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Two pathways in the brain converging at the amygdala regulate the anxiety and depression that often accompanies chronic pain, suggests research in male rats published in JNeurosci. One of these pathways may represent a top-down mechanism that controls negative emotion under stress.

Using optogenetic stimulation, Zhizhong Pan and colleagues identify two opposing neural pathways -- one that carries pain signals from the parabrachial nucleus to the central nucleus of amygdala (PBN-CeA) and another from the basolateral amygdala to CeA (BLA-CeA) -- that integrate negative and positive emotion.

Activating the PBN-CeA circuit generated anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats, even in the absence of physical pain, while activating the BLA-CeA counteracted each of these behaviors. These new insights into the complex relationship between pain and emotion may help to improve treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders that develop in patients suffering from chronic pain.

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Materials provided by Society for Neuroscience. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. You-Qing Cai, Wei Wang, Adriana Paulucci-Holthauzen, Zhizhong Z Pan. Brain circuits mediating opposing effects on emotion and pain. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2018; 2780-17 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2780-17.2018

Cite This Page:

Society for Neuroscience. "Mind over matter: Amygdala circuit counteracts pain-driven emotion: Study identifies brain pathway that may control negative emotion during stress." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 June 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180625130939.htm>.
Society for Neuroscience. (2018, June 25). Mind over matter: Amygdala circuit counteracts pain-driven emotion: Study identifies brain pathway that may control negative emotion during stress. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 25, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180625130939.htm
Society for Neuroscience. "Mind over matter: Amygdala circuit counteracts pain-driven emotion: Study identifies brain pathway that may control negative emotion during stress." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180625130939.htm (accessed May 25, 2023).

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