title: Prefrontal parvalbumin interneurons shape neuronal activity to drive fear expression.
abstract: Synchronization of spiking activity in neuronal networks is a fundamental process that enables the precise transmission of information to drive behavioural responses. In cortical areas, synchronization of principal-neuron spiking activity is an effective mechanism for information coding that is regulated by GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)-ergic interneurons through the generation of neuronal oscillations. Although neuronal synchrony has been demonstrated to be crucial for sensory, motor and cognitive processing, it has not been investigated at the level of defined circuits involved in the control of emotional behaviour. Converging evidence indicates that fear behaviour is regulated by the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). This control over fear behaviour relies on the activation of specific prefrontal projections to the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA), a structure that encodes associative fear memories. However, it remains to be established how the precise temporal control of fear behaviour is achieved at the level of prefrontal circuits. Here we use single-unit recordings and optogenetic manipulations in behaving mice to show that fear expression is causally related to the phasic inhibition of prefrontal parvalbumin interneurons (PVINs). Inhibition of PVIN activity disinhibits prefrontal projection neurons and synchronizes their firing by resetting local theta oscillations, leading to fear expression. Our results identify two complementary neuronal mechanisms mediated by PVINs that precisely coordinate and enhance the neuronal activity of prefrontal projection neurons to drive fear expression.
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Courtin
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chaudun
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rozeske
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karalis
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Campo
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wurtz
authors.affiliation: 1] University of Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Bordeaux F-33000, France [2] CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Bordeaux F-33000, France.
authors.forename: Azzedine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.affiliation: 1] University of Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Bordeaux F-33000, France [2] CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Bordeaux F-33000, France.
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baufreton
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Thomas C M
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.affiliation: 1] INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France [2] University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U862, 146 Rue Léo-Saignat, Bordeaux 33077, France.
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herry
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways; D062308:Optogenetics; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm
chemical_list: D010320:Parvalbumins