Moreover, current treatments are insufficient to alleviate anxiety symptoms because of their lack of effectiveness or potential side effects, in part due to their poor specificity. Recent findings identified specific oscillations in the prefrontal cortex centered around 4 Hz predicting the occurrence of fear and anxiety-related states.
On the one hand, fear-related disorders can be studied behaviorally using classical cued and contextual fear conditioning with freezing as a fear readout. Freezing initiation, maintenance, and termination coincide with 4 Hz oscillations, suggesting 4 Hz oscillations as a biomarker of fear-related states.
On the other hand, anxiety-related disorders can be studied using the classical open field and elevated plus maze tests that are sensitive to anxiolytic drugs and disrupt 4 Hz oscillations.
In conclusion, the identification of 4 Hz oscillations as a translational biomarker of fear and anxiety opens new avenues for understanding and treating these disorders. At Neuroservices Alliance, we specialize in high-quality behavioral assays to support your preclinical research needs. Whether you’re investigating novel therapeutics for anxiety disorders or exploring neural mechanisms underlying fear, our expertise ensures reliable and translational data.
Contact us today to learn how our behavioral assays can enhance your research and accelerate drug development!
Dejean C, Courtin J, Karalis N, Chaudun F, Wurtz H, Bienvenu TC, Herry C. (2016) Prefrontal neuronal assemblies temporally control fear behaviour. Nature. 535(7612):420-4.
Karalis N, Dejean C, Chaudun F, Khoder S, Rozeske RR, Wurtz H, Bagur S, Benchenane K, Sirota A, Courtin J, Herry C. (2016). 4-Hz oscillations synchronize prefrontal-amygdala circuits during fear behavior. Nat Neurosci. 19(4):605-12.
