Overwriting an instinct: Visual cortex instructs learning to suppress fear responses

• DOI: 10.1126/science.adr2247
• Publication Date: 2025-02-06T18:59:31Z
• Authors: Sara Mederos; Patty Blakely; Nicole Vissers; Claudia Clopath; Sonja B. Hofer
• Keywords: Instinct; Lateral geniculate nucleus

Fast instinctive responses to environmental stimuli can be crucial for survival but are not always optimal. Animals adapt their behavior and suppress reactions, the neural pathways mediating such ethologically relevant forms of learning remain unclear. We found that posterolateral higher visual areas (plHVAs) escapes from innate threats through a top-down pathway ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN). plHVAs no longer necessary after learning; instead, learned relies on plasticity within vLGN populations exert inhibitory control over escape responses. neurons receiving input enhance threat during endocannabinoid-mediated long-term suppression inputs. thus reveal detailed circuit, cellular, synaptic mechanisms underlying experience-dependent fear