# The central amygdala circuits in motivated behaviors

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY · 2022 · $709,626

## Abstract

The central amygdala circuits in motivated behaviors
Project Summary
The central amygdala (CeA) contains heterogeneous cell types, with somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) neurons
and protein kinase C--expressing (PKC-+) neurons being two largest and largely non-overlapping
populations. Previous studies have mainly focused on the roles of these neurons in fear conditioning, revealing
that SOM+ and PKC-+ CeA neurons differentially contribute to fear learning and expression. However, it is
long recognized that the CeA contributes not only to behaviors driven by aversive stimuli, but also to those
driven by appetitive stimuli, and to the generation of anxiety state. Indeed, recent studies show that distinct
types of CeA neurons, such as SOM+ neurons, can drive appetitive behaviors and heightened anxiety.
However, how the SOM+ as well as PKC-+ CeA neurons participate in divergent motivational behaviors
remains poorly understood. Bridging this knowledge gap will have important clinical implications for improved
treatments, as CeA dysfunctions have been implicated in mood- or motivation-related disorders, including
anxiety disorders, depression and drug addiction.
We will address this question by investigating the in vivo response properties of SOM+ neurons and PKC-+
neurons in the CeA during behaviors driven by either reward or punishment, and determining how these
responses are used to control the functions of downstream circuits and, hence, behavior. Our central
hypothesis is that CeA neurons influence learning or expression of reward seeking and punishment avoidance
through their long-range projections to different targets. Based on our preliminary results, we devised an
integrated approach, combining in vivo imaging, fiber photometry, optogenetics, chemogenetics and novel
behavioral techniques, to test our hypotheses in the following Specific Aims:
 Aim 1. To determine the roles of SOM+ CeA neurons in motivational behaviors.
 Aim 2. To determine the roles of PKC-+ CeA neurons in motivational behaviors.
 Aim 3. To determine how a CeA-BNST circuit contributes to anxiety-related behaviors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10319604
- **Project number:** 5R01MH101214-08
- **Recipient organization:** COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
- **Principal Investigator:** Bo LI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $709,626
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-03-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10319604

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10319604, The central amygdala circuits in motivated behaviors (5R01MH101214-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10319604. Licensed CC0.

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