Overview
- Published Nov. 5 in Science Advances, the Virginia Tech-led study identifies a nucleus reuniens to ventral hippocampus pathway altered by early-life trauma.
- Excessive activity of L-type calcium channels in vGlut2 neurons of the nucleus reuniens hyperactivates this circuit and raises susceptibility to impulsive aggression and self-harm in mice.
- Activating the nucleus reuniens projection to ventral CA1 promotes these behaviors, whereas a projection to the medial prefrontal cortex does not.
- Distinct ventral CA1 outputs map the behaviors: neurons projecting to the hypothalamus drive aggression, while those projecting to the basal amygdala mediate self-injury.
- The authors suggest these molecular and circuit nodes could be therapeutic targets, noting the evidence is preclinical and requires validation in humans; funding included NIMH and institutional support.