Did you know that a single traumatic event can have long-lasting effects on the brain? Israeli researchers at the University of Haifa have made groundbreaking discoveries on how trauma changes the brains of mice, leading them to perceive harmless stimuli as threats. These findings, published in Nature Communications, could pave the way for better diagnosis and innovative treatments for trauma-related disorders.
In their study, scientists exposed male mice to a shock and later observed their reactions to stimuli that were previously non-threatening. The traumatized mice were quick to escape, displaying heightened fear responses even long after the initial shock.
Using cutting-edge light control of neurons, the researchers traced these changes to a specific group in the superior colliculus (SC) – a crucial brain region responsible for managing escape behaviors. They discovered that neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) send signals to the SC, initiating escape when a threat is perceived. After trauma, these mPFC neurons became more likely to trigger an earlier escape, reinforcing the fear response.
Interestingly, activating this neural system in non-traumatized mice was enough to provoke a safety response, highlighting the vital role of these neurons in trauma-induced behavior. These insights could lead to new techniques for repairing and reversing the brain's response to traumatic events, offering hope for those affected by trauma.
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Israeli researchers at the University of Haifa have made groundbreaking discoveries on how trauma changes the brains of mice, leading them to perceive harmless stimuli as threats. 
These findings, published in Nature Communications, could pave the way for better diagnosis and innovative treatments for trauma-related disorders. 
They discovered that neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) send signals to the SC, initiating escape when a threat is perceived. After trauma, these mPFC neurons became more likely to trigger an earlier escape, reinforcing the fear response. 
These insights could lead to new techniques for repairing and reversing the brain's response to traumatic events, offering hope for those affected by trauma. 
