A01 A02 A03 A04 A05 A06 A07 A09 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A18 A19 A21 F01 F02 INF Ö

A21 - Cerebellar contribution to fear extinction

Melanie Mark

One of the key elements to survival is the ability of our brain to recall threatening situations from the past so our self-defense mechanism can respond swiftly. Cerebellar lesion and stimulation studies in rodents and humans suggest a contribution of the cerebellum to anxiety and fear extinction behavior. However, a clear understanding of the circuitry and learning mechanisms within the cerebellum contributing to fear extinction is missing. Thus, the goal of this project is to investigate the cerebellar contribution and its intrinsic mechanisms to fear extinction in wildtype and cerebellar degenerative mouse models for episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). We will attempt to rescue fear conditioning, extinction or retrieval deficits with optogenetic, chemogenetic and pharmacological strategies in the next funding period.

Guiding questions of A21:

  • What regions and cell types of the cerebellum are active during the different phases of fear extinction?
  • Can we control (i. e. delay or accelerate) fear extinction from the cerebellar cortex or deep cerebellar nuclei using optogenetics?
  • How is the cerebellum involved in prediction errors during fear extinction?
  • Do our cerebellar degenerative mouse models for EA2 and SCA6 display deficits in fear conditioning, retrieval or extinction? Can we rescue these deficits in EA2 and SCA6 mice with optogenetic strategies?
Back to overview

Melanie Mark

Project Lead A21

Ruhr University Bochum

Tejas Nair

PhD Student A21

Ruhr University Bochum

10 project relevant publications

Batsikadze G*, Pakusch J*, Klein M, Ernst TM, Thieme A, Nicksirat SA, Steiner KM, Nio E, Genç E, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Merz CJ, Quick HH, Mark MD*, Timmann D*. (2024) Mild Deficits in Fear Learning: Evidence from Humans and Mice with Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration. eNeuro. Feb 26;11(2): ENEURO.0365-23.2023. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0365-23.2023

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. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. Jul 30;19(1):40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-024-10143-9

Bohne P, Josten M, Rambuscheck L, Zhu XR, Rybarski MO, Mark MD (2023) Cerebellar α1D-adrenergic receptors mediate stress-induced dystonia in totteringtg/tg mice. bioRxiv11.12.566757. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.12.566757

Bohne P, Schwarz MK, Herlitze S, Mark MD (2019) A New Projection from the Deep Cerebellar Nuclei to the Hippocampus via the Ventrolateral and Laterodorsal Thalamus in Mice. Front Neural Circuits 13: 51. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2019.00051

Ernst TM, Brol AE, Gratz M, Ritter C, Bingel U, Schlamann M, Maderwald S, Quick HH, Merz CJ, Timmann D. (2019) The cerebellum is involved in processing of predictions and prediction errors in a fear conditioning paradigm. Elife 8:e46831. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.46831

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. Nature Commun. Jul 23;12(1):4488. *Equal corresponding author. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24718-0

Mark M, Pakusch J, Ernst TM, Timmann D (2022). Cerebellum and Emotion Memory. In: Adamaszek, M., Manto, M., Schutter, D.J.L.G. (eds) The Emotional Cerebellum. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1378. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99550-8_5

Nio E, Pais Pereira P, Diekmann N, Petrenko M, Doubliez A, Ernst TM, Batsikadze G, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Üngör M, Cheng S, Merz CJ, Quick HH, Timmann D (2025) Human cerebellum and ventral tegmental area interact during extinction of learned fear. eLife 14:RP105399. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.105399

Piotrowski D, Clemensson EKH, Nguyen HP, Mark MD. (2024) Phenotypic analysis of ataxia in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 mice using DeepLabCut. Sci Rep. 14:8571. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59187-0

Surdin T, Preissing B, Rohr L, Grömmke M, Böke H, Barcik M, Zohre A, Jancke D, Herlitze S, Mark MD, Siveke I (2023) Optogenetic activation of mGluR1 signaling in the cerebellum induces synaptic plasticity. iScience. 26:105828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105828

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.