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Transformation of sensory signals and dynamic value assignment in the basolateral amygdala

Hinz, Julian. Transformation of sensory signals and dynamic value assignment in the basolateral amygdala. 2023, Doctoral Thesis, University of Basel, Faculty of Science.

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Abstract

Animals are faced with constantly changing environmental conditions and need to rapidly adapt to ensure their continued survival. This adaptation requires a continuous process of prioritization and a robust mapping of actions to expected outcomes to be able to optimally address the current needs of the animal. While there is substantial knowledge of how value perception changes across different states and adapts to changing bodily needs a thorough understanding of the neuronal substrates of value processing and action-outcome mapping remain elusive. In my thesis work I investigated how the the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a sub-cortical brain structure thought to be involved in value processing and associative learning, is able to represent, update and map the value of specific sensory stimuli to specific actions.
I used two-photon calcium imaging in a novel head-fixed task that allowed the quantification of perceived reward value. Using this task I was able to demonstrated that the amygdala can track the relative value of specific rewards across different homeostatic- and affective states and that this update can happen within minutes.
Moreover, I contributed to a study which showed that the BLA is representing actions and it's respective outcome value using calcium imaging in freely moving mice. Furthermore, temporally precise optogenetic inhibition of the population activity during previously identified, critical time points disrupted action sequences, demonstrating the necessity of intact BLA function for maintaining information about action-outcome contingencies.
Both of these studies provide insight into how the brain is able to flexibly assign value to arbitrary actions and update these associations to react to changing homeostatic states and environmental conditions. Even though the BLA has long been suspected to play a crucial role in these processes, the presented studies are an important step towards understanding the role BLA plays in value processing. Understanding how value is assigned in a healthy brain is essential to ultimately help humans suffering from inaccurate value assignment during anhedonia, which is a hallmark of psychiatric disorders.
Advisors:Lüthi , Andreas
Committee Members:Friedrich, Rainer and Paz, Rony
Faculties and Departments:09 Associated Institutions > Friedrich Miescher Institut FMI
09 Associated Institutions > Friedrich Miescher Institut FMI > Neurobiology > Cellular mechanisms of learning and memory (Lüthi)
Item Type:Thesis
Thesis Subtype:Doctoral Thesis
Thesis no:15351
Thesis status:Complete
Number of Pages:118
Language:English
Identification Number:
  • urn: urn:nbn:ch:bel-bau-diss153516
edoc DOI:
Last Modified:28 May 2024 10:13
Deposited On:28 May 2024 10:13

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