Environmental certainty influences the neural systems regulating responses to threat and stress

Heidi C Meyer; Susan Sangha; Jason J Radley; Ryan T LaLumiere; Michael V Baratta

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.014

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Environmental certainty influences the neural systems regulating responses to threat and stress

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Environmental certainty influences the neural systems regulating responses to threat and stress

Heidi C Meyer, Susan Sangha, Jason J Radley, Ryan T LaLumiere and Michael V Baratta

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, Vol.131, pp.1037-1055

12/2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.014

PMCID: PMC8642312

PMID: 34673111

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.014View

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Abstract

•Overview of neural systems for threat responding through a lens of predictability.•Comparison of extinction and safety conditioning mechanisms.•Effects of stress on extinction and safety conditioning.•Discussion of how control over stress modifies future threat responding. Flexible calibration of threat responding in accordance with the environment is an adaptive process that allows an animal to avoid harm while also maintaining engagement of other goal-directed actions. This calibration process, referred to as threat response regulation, requires an animal to calculate the probability that a given encounter will result in a threat so they can respond accordingly. Here we review the neural correlates of two highly studied forms of threat response suppression: extinction and safety conditioning. We focus on how relative levels of certainty or uncertainty in the surrounding environment alter the acquisition and application of these processes. We also discuss evidence indicating altered threat response regulation following stress exposure, including enhanced fear conditioning, and disrupted extinction and safety conditioning. To conclude, we discuss research using an animal model of coping that examines the impact of stressor controllability on threat responding, highlighting the potential for previous experiences with control, or other forms of coping, to protect against the effects of future adversity.

Safety

Stress

Controllability

Neural circuits

Predictability

Threat

Details

Title: Subtitle: Environmental certainty influences the neural systems regulating responses to threat and stress
Creators: Heidi C Meyer - Boston University
Susan Sangha - Purdue University West Lafayette
Jason J Radley - University of Iowa
Ryan T LaLumiere - University of Iowa
Michael V Baratta - University of Colorado Boulder
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, Vol.131, pp.1037-1055
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.014
PMID: 34673111
PMCID: PMC8642312
NLM abbreviation: Neurosci Biobehav Rev
ISSN: 0149-7634
eISSN: 1873-7528
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health; DOI: 10.13039/100000025, name: National Institute of Mental Health, award: K99 MH119320, R01 MH050479, R01 MH104384, R01 MH110425, R01 MH119106, R21 MH115673, R21 MH116353
Language: English
Date published: 12/2021
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984187040402771

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