The consolidation of fear memory: in vivo & ex vivo optogenetic dissection of neuronal mechanisms in the hippocampus - prefrontal cortex network. – INEXCONSO

Fear and anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among the most frequent psychiatric conditions and represent a major public health concern. Such disorders are commonly viewed as impairment of fear memory, its consolidation in particular. Pavlovian fear conditioning in mice models one key aspect of panic attacks and PSTD: the spontaneous recall of fear memory. To date, the circuits and mechanisms responsible for fear memory consolidation remain unknown. From our preliminary data and a large body of literature, the present project proposes to study the ventral hippocampus - prefrontal cortex network as the core circuit for fear memory consolidation. To this end, we will combine state of the art behaviour, electrophysiology and optogenetic techniques to thoroughly dissect and manipulate this circuit and its mechanisms. Beyond physiology, interfering with fear memory circuit mechanisms would be a novel and promising therapeutic strategy.