Ventral pallidum neurons dynamically signal relative threat

The ventral pallidum (VP) is anatomically poised to contribute to threat behavior. Recent studies report a VP population that scales firing increases to reward but decreases firing to aversive cues. Here, we tested whether firing decreases in VP neurons serve as a neural signal for relative threat. Single-unit activity was recorded while male rats discriminated cues predicting unique foot shock probabilities. Rats' behavior and VP single-unit firing discriminated danger, uncertainty, and safety cues. Two populations of VP neurons dynamically signaled relative threat, decreasing firing according to foot shock probability during early cue presentation, but disproportionately decreasing firing to uncertain threat as foot shock drew near. One relative threat population increased firing to reward, consistent with a bi-directional signal for general value. The second population was unresponsive to reward, revealing a specific signal for relative threat. The results reinforce anatomy to reveal the VP as a neural source of a dynamic, relative threat signal. Moaddab et al. monitored single-unit firing of ventral pallidum (VP) neurons alongside behavior in rats when presented with auditory cues of various threat levels. They show that the VP is comprised of functional neuronal populations that dynamically respond to threat and thus constitute a neural basis for threat behaviors.

Automated summary

The ventral pallidum (VP) is anatomically poised to contribute to threat behavior as recent studies have shown VP neurons dynamically respond to threat, decreasing firing to uncertain cues and increasing firing to rewards. This dynamic response suggests the VP serves as a neural basis for threat behaviors, with specific signals for relative threat identified in two distinct neuronal populations.