Ventral pallidum neurons signal relative threat

Abstract

Ventral pallidum (VP) neurons scale firing increases to reward value and decrease firing to aversive cues. Anatomical connectivity suggests a critical role for the VP in threat-related behavior. Here we tested whether firing decreases in VP neurons conform to relative threat by recording single units while male rats discriminated cues predicting unique foot shock probabilities. Rats behavior and VP single unit firing discriminated danger, uncertainty and safety cues. We found that two VP populations (Low firing and Intermediate firing) signaled relative threat, proportionally decreased firing according shock probability: danger < uncertainty < safety. Low firing neurons showed reward firing increases, consistent with a general signal for relative value. Intermediate firing neurons were unresponsive to reward, revealing a specific signal for relative threat. The results suggest an integral role for the VP in threat-related behavior.