Prelimbic cortex drives discrimination of non-aversion via amygdala somatostatin interneurons

The amygdala and prelimbic cortex (PL) communicate during fear discrimination retrieval, but how they co-ordinate discrimination of a non-threatening stimulus is unknown. Here, we show that somatostatin (SOM) interneurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) become active specifically during learned non-threatening cues and desynchronize cell firing by blocking phase reset of theta oscillations during the safe cue. Further-more, we show that SOM activation and desynchronization of the BLA is PL-dependent and promotes discrimination of non-threat. Thus, fear discrimination engages PL-dependent coordination of BLA SOM re-sponses to non-threatening stimuli.

Automated summary

The study revealed that somatostatin interneurons in the basolateral amygdala become active specifically during learned non-threatening cues and desynchronize cell firing by blocking phase reset of theta oscillations during the safe cue, promoting discrimination of non-threat.