Fig. 3: Optogenetic inhibition of object-evoked AHN^Vgat+ activity reduces avoidance.

a The viral strategy to optogenetically inhibit AHN^Vgat+ neurons. b A representative post-hoc image showing GtACR1 expression in AHN and tracks of implanted fibers. Scale bar, 200 μm. c, d A representative trace (c) and quantifications (d) show light-mediated inhibition of GtACR1-expressing neurons. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test, baseline vs light, p = 0.004, light vs after light, p = 0.004. e–j Optogenetic inhibition of AHN^Vgat+ neurons. e, h Light delivery area shown by the blue square for experiments in f, g and i, j, respectively. Red dots denote the starting location of all approach (e) or retreat (h) bouts in a representative trial. The quantification on the right shows the average distance (in the vertical or horizontal direction) between the approach (e) or retreat (h) starting location and the open field center, where the object was placed. n = 22 mice. f, i Representative trajectories of an EYFP or GtACR1 male with light delivered in the center and middle zone (f) or center zone only (i) after object introduction. g, j Quantification of the time spent in the indicated zone before or after object introduction in EYFP (n = 10) and GtACR1 males (n = 12). g. EYFP, two-tailed paired t test, center, p = 0.04, middle, p = 0.002, peripheral, p = 0.003; GtACR1, center, Wilcoxon matched-paired t test, p = 0.18, middle and peripheral, two-tailed paired t test, p = 0.08 and 0.63, respectively. j. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA followed by Turkey’s multiple comparison test. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; #, p < 0.001. Data are presented as mean values ±SEM.