Fig. 5: Dynamic activity in PL–avTRN neurons signal the decision to and initiation of active avoidance. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: Dynamic activity in PL–avTRN neurons signal the decision to and initiation of active avoidance.

From: Convergent direct and indirect cortical streams shape avoidance decisions in mice via the midline thalamus

Fig. 5

a Top: Schematic of the experimental approach for fiber photometry imaging of avTRN-projecting PL neurons. Bottom: Representative images of GCaMP8s expression and optical fiber placement in the PL region. b Top: Heatmaps of calcium responses for avoidance and escape trials. Bottom: Average calcium signal and WS duration, n = 6 mice. c, d Left: Averaged calcium responses for avoidance (blue) and escape (red) trials during WS onset (c) and shuttle initiate events (d). Mixed-effects model (REML) interactions reported in graphs. WS onset: Avoidance, n = 128 events; Escape, n = 52 events. Shuttle initiate: Avoidance, n = 112 events; Escape, n = 50 events. Right: Calcium signal AUC quantification in 1 s bins. WS onset REML interaction, F(3,534) = 2.60, P = 0.051; Shuttle Initiate REML interaction F(9,1440) = 3.20, P = 0.0008. e Top: Viral strategy schematic for optogenetic stimulation of PL–avTRN terminals. Bottom: Representative images of PL mCherry expression and fiber placement around avTRN. f 2AA Task schematic. g Group behavioral data across test sessions normalized to the first light-off session for avoidance rates (left), latencies to avoid (middle), and latencies to escape (right). Two-way ANOVA interactions provided (n = 11 mice per group). Avoidance rate: F(2,40) = 1.74, P = 0.19. Latency to avoid: F(2,40) = 2.23, P = 0.12. Latency to escape: F(2,58) = 0.31, P = 0.73. h 2AA task schematic. i Group behavioral data across test sessions normalized to the first light-off session for avoidance rates (left), latencies to avoid (middle), and latencies to escape (right). Two-way ANOVA interactions provided (Ctl: n = 9 mice; ChR: n = 8 mice). Avoidance rate: F(2,30) = 18.88, P < 0.0001. Latency to avoid: F(2,29) = 7.66, P = 0.0007. Latency to escape: F(2,28) = 35.59, P < 0.0001. For all quantifications, multiple comparisons were conducted corrected by a two-stage linear step-up procedure, black lines along the x-axis indicate significant changes reported between groups, and red or blue lines denote the first significant change from the previous bin for within trial type comparisons. Asterisks indicate where ANOVA multiple comparisons found significance. Data are shown as mean ± s.e.m. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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