Question

Neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and central amygdala (CeM) are found in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in response to fear and reward conditioning. If you were to selectively lesion the neurons projecting to the CeM, you should expect:

	A.	Decreased reward responses
	B.	Increased reward responses
	C.	Decreased fear responses
	D.	Increased fear responses
	E.	A and C

If you were to selectively lesion the neurons projecting from BLA to to the nucleus accumbens, you should expect:

	A.	Decreased reward responses
	B.	Increased reward responses
	C.	Decreased fear responses
	D.	Increased fear responses
	E.	None of the above

Selectively lesioning PPP1r1B neurons should lead to:

	A.	Decreased reward behaviors
	B.	Increased fear responses
	C.	Impairments in episodic memory
	D.	Increased nose-pokes
	E.	None of the above

Answer 1

The BLA lesions are known to impair the value changes of reward outcomes affecting the behaviour. The BLA lesions are recruited by both reward and fear cues. CeM neurons are known for causing freezing a measure of fear response. PPP1r1B neurons are necessary for antagonist control of emotional behaviour and memories.

If you were to selectively lesion the neurons projecting to the CeM, you should expect:

Option C: Decreased fear responses.

If you were to selectively lesion the neurons projecting from BLA to to the nucleus accumbens, you should expect:

Option A: decreased reward responses

Selectively lesioning PPP1r1B neurons should lead to:

Option C: Impairments in episodic memory