Author/Authors :
Moers-Hornikx, Véronique M.P. Maastricht University - Maastricht University Medical Centre - Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Netherlands , Moers-Hornikx, Véronique M.P. European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) , Vles, Johan S.H. Department of Neurology - Maastricht University Medical Centre, Netherlands , Hemmes, Roelof Jan Maastricht University - Department of Neuroscience, Netherlands , Lim, Lee Wei European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) , Lim, Lee Wei Maastricht University - Maastricht University Medical Center - Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurosurgery, Netherlands , Hoogland, Govert Maastricht University - Maastricht University Medical Centre - Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurosurgery, Netherlands , Hoogland, Govert European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) , Steinbusch, Harry W.M. Maastricht University - Medical Center - Department of Neuroscience, Netherlands , Steinbusch, Harry W.M. European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) , Temel, Yasin Maastricht University - Maastricht University Medical Center - Departments of Neuroscience, Departments of Neurosurgery, Netherlands , Temel, Yasin European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON)
Abstract :
In contrast to what was previously believed, there is increasing evidence that the cerebellum is involved in emotional and cognitive behaviour. Preclinical and clinical research points towards a role of the cerebellum in impulsivity and panic. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) in rats has proved to elicit escape behaviour directly, but can also be used for conditioning of context-dependant fear responses. We used this model to study the activation in the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCbN) after conditioned fear. For this purpose, we performed c-Fos immunohistochemistry in the DCbN. We found no statistically significant difference in c-Fos expression in the DCbN between the subgroups in this animal model. We hypothesize that the lack of a significant difference in activation of the DCbN may be related to fear consolidation which takes place after dlPAG stimulation, after which retrieval of behaviour, whether adequate or inadequate, does not lead to a different activation of the DCbN. On the other hand the effect of conditioned fear may be smaller than the effect of panic behaviour elicited by DBS, requiring a larger study population.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Cerebellum , Deep brain stimulation , Periaqueductal grey , Conditioned fear , Escape behaviour
