Amygdala and thalamus changes after a double deactivation on the infralimbic-cerebellum pathway

Abstract

The c erebellum plays an important role in addiction. It has been suggested that there is a functional netw ork between the cerebellum and i nfralimbic cortex that could play a fundamental role in the inhibition of drug - induced behavioural patterns. Using olfactory stimuli paired with cocaine in a preference conditioning procedure, our previous research has shown that conditioned preference is promot ed when either of these regions are deactivated. Moreover, in cerebellum deactivated animals (dorsal lobule VIII) two infralimbic hallmarks signatures of cocaine - induced preference conditioning were found: increased c - Fos expression (used as a neuronal act ivity marker), and an upregulation of Perineuronal Nets, indicating a stabilization of drug - related memory. Due to this functional relationship, our hypothesis is that several thalamic regions would act as a relay for the cerebellum - infralimbic network. Other of the regions we were interested is a highly involved nucleus in the drug - seeking behaviour, the basolateral amygdala , will be affected .