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A07 – Interaction between stress and serotonergic signalling pathways to modulate extinction learning in the amygdala

Katharina Spoida, Stefan Herlitze

The amygdala has been identified as one of the main neuronal circuits involved in the processing of memories of emotional behavior including anxiety and fear and is one of the key components in the brain for processing stress responses. Thus, we will investigate the role of serotonergic signaling pathways within the amygdala for aversive learning and extinction under normal and stress conditions. Using an optogenetic strategy we will first control serotonin release directly in the amygdala and then 5HT2A and 5HT2C receptor pathways in specifically in GABAergic or glutamtergic neurons to enhance or inhibit fear conditioning, extinction, renewal and reinstatement under normal and stress conditions.

Guiding questions of A07:

  • How does serotonin release in the amygdala in vivo affect fear conditioning, extinction, renewal and reinstatement under normal and stress conditions?
  • How do 5HT2A and 5HT2C receptor signals activated either in GABAergic (parvalbumin positive) or glutamatergic neurons in the basolateral amygdala, respectively, enhance or inhibit fear conditioning, extinction, renewal and reinstatement under normal and stress conditions?
  • How do 5HT2A and 5HT2C receptor signals in either GABAergic (parvalbumin positive) or glutamatergic neurons in the basolateral amygdala determine the cellular responses of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons during fear conditioning and extinction under normal and stress conditions?
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Katharina Spoida

Project Lead A07

Ruhr University Bochum

Stefan Herlitze

Project Lead A07

Ruhr University Bochum

Hanna Böke

PhD Student A07

Ruhr University Bochum

Lennard Rohr

PhD Student A07

Ruhr University Bochum

10 project-relevant publications

Barzan R, Bozkurt B, Nejad MM, Süß ST, Surdin T, Böke H, Spoida K, Azimi Z, Grömmke M, Eickelbeck D, Mark MD, Rohr L, Siveke I, Cheng S, Herlitze S, Jancke D (2024) Gain control of sensory input across polysynaptic circuitries in mouse visual cortex by a single G protein-coupled receptor type (5-HT2A). Nat Commun 15:8078.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51861-1 

Bihorac J, Salem Y, Lückemann L, Schedlowski M, Doenlen R, Engler H, Mark MD, Dombrowski K, Spoida K, Hadamitzky M (2024) Investigations on the Ability of the Insular Cortex to Process Peripheral Immunosuppression. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 19:40.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-024-10143-9 

Ito K, Sato K, Tsuneoka Y, Maejima T, Okuno H, Hamasaki Y, Murakawa S, Takabayashi Y, Yoshihara C, Shindo S, Uki H, Herlitze S, Seki M, Suzuki Y, Sakurai T, Kuroda KO, Minami M, Amano T (2023) Synaptic plasticity in the medial preoptic area of male mice encodes social experiences with female and regulates behavior toward young. bioRxiv:2023.10.23.560098.https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.23.560098 

Karapinar R, Schwitalla JC, Eickelbeck D, Pakusch J, Mücher B, Grömmke M, Surdin T, Knöpfel T, Mark MD, Siveke I, Herlitze S (2021) Reverse optogenetics of G protein signaling by zebrafish non-visual opsin Opn7b for synchronization of neuronal networks. Nat Commun 12:4488.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24718-0 

Mücher B, Garrido-Charles A, Cyganek L, Bruegmann T, Dalkara D, Siveke I, Herlitze S (2025) Guiding G protein signaling by target enhancement of GPCRs. bioRxiv:2025.02.06.636923.https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.06.636923 

Rook N, Tuff JM, Isparta S, Masseck OA, Herlitze S, Güntürkün O, Pusch R (2021) AAV1 is the optimal viral vector for optogenetic experiments in pigeons (Columba livia). Commun Biol 4:100.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01595-9 

Schulte H, Böke H, Lössl P, Worm M, Siveke I, Herlitze S, Spoida K (2025) Chemogenetic modulation of CRF neurons in the BNST compensates for phenotypic behavioral differences in fear extinction learning of 5-HT2C receptor mutant mice. Research Square https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5604701/v1 

Surdin T, Grömmke M, Böke H, Barcik M, Azimi Z, Jancke D, Herlitze S, Mark M, Siveke I (2022) Optogenetic control of mGluR1 signaling modulates synaptic plasticity and cerebellum driven learning.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105828 

Süß ST, Olbricht LM, Herlitze S, Spoida K (2022) Constitutive 5-HT2C receptor knock-out facilitates fear extinction through altered activity of a dorsal raphe-bed nucleus of the stria terminalis pathway. Transl Psychiatry 12:487.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02252-x 

Tuff, J., Haselhuhn, K., Surdin, T., Herlitze, S., Ziegler, M., Güntürkün, O., & Rook, N. (2025) Achieving cell-type specific transduction with adeno-associated viral vectors in pigeons. bioRxiv 2025.04.29.651184 https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.29.651184 

New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to “take better care of themselves” could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.