title: Acquisition of contextual Pavlovian fear conditioning is blocked by application of an NMDA receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid to the basolateral amygdala.
abstract: Rats, with chronic cannula placed bilaterally in the amygdala, received infusions of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) before contextual Pavlovian fear conditioning. Administration of APV to the basolateral nucleus prevented acquisition of fear. Central nucleus infusions had no effect. It is concluded that an NMDA-mediated process near the basolateral region of the amygdala (e.g., lateral or basolateral nucleus) is essential for the learning of fear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fanselow
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004597:Electroshock; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D012931:Social Environment
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate