title: Amygdala Circuits for Fear Memory: A Key Role for Dopamine Regulation.
abstract: In addition to modulating a number of cognitive functions including reward, punishment, motivation, and salience, dopamine (DA) plays a pivotal role in regulating threat-related emotional memory. Changes in neural circuits of the amygdala nuclei are also critically involved in the acquisition and expression of emotional memory. In this review, we summarize the regulation of amygdala circuits by DA. Specifically, we describe DA signaling in the amygdala, and DA regulation of synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity of the amygdala neurons. Finally, we discuss a potential contribution of DA-related mechanisms to the pathogenesis of posttraumatic stress disorder.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Seungho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Joung-Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine
keywords: amygdala; dopamine; neural circuits; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); synaptic plasticity