Fig. 3: PVT mediates stress effects on safety learning modulation.

A Schematic of GCaMP6 virus injection in PVT (left), and procedure for the stress impacts on PVT neuron activity and safety learning expression. B Freezing levels during CS− (left) and discrimination index (right) before and after acute stress in PVT-GCaMP6-injected mice (two-tailed paired t-test, t = 3.087, df = 6; P < 0.05; CS-(Test 1) vs. CS-(Test2); N = 7 mice; two-tailed paired t-test, t = 2.951, df = 6; P < 0.05; CS- (Test 1) vs. CS- (Test2); N = 7 mice). C Averaged (left) Ca²⁺ responses in PVT neurons during CS− before and after acute stress and its heat maps (middle). (Right) Mean Ca²⁺ responses (AUC) during CS- before and after stress (two-tailed paired t-test, t = 3.479, df = 6; P < 0.05; CS-(Test 1) vs. CS-(Test2); N = 7 mice). D Schematic of acute stress exposure and chemogenetic inhibition of PVT neurons after safety learning. E Freezing levels (left) and discrimination index (right) during CS− before, during and after acute stress exposure with PVT chemogenetic inhibition (one-way ANOVA, F(2,15) = 1.225, P = 0.3215; N = 6 mice, test 1(pre-stress/ CNO) vs. test 2 (stress/ CNO), P > 0.99, test 2(stress/CNO)vs. test 3(post stress/CNO), P = 0.5743, Bonferroni’s post-test; one-way ANOVA, F(2,15) = 2.099, P = 0.1572; N = 6 mice, test 1(pre stress/CNO)vs. test 2(stress/CNO), P > 0.99, test 2 (stress/CNO)vs. test 3(Post stress/CNO), P = 0.4802, Bonferroni’s post-test).