An amygdala circuit mediates experience-dependent momentary exploratory arrests

Abstract

Exploration of novel environments ensures survival and evolutionary fitness. This behavior is expressed through exploratory bouts and arrests, which change dynamically based on experience. Neural circuits mediating exploratory behavior should therefore integrate experience and use it to select the proper behavioral output. Using a spatial exploration assay, we uncovered an experience-dependent increase of momentary arrests in visited locations where animals previously arrested. Quantitative analyses of neuronal calcium activity in freely-exploring mice revealed that a large neuronal ensemble in basolateral amygdala is active during self-paced behavioral arrests. This ensemble was recruited in an experience-dependent manner, and closed-loop optogenetic manipulation of these neurons revealed that they are sufficient and necessary to drive experience-dependent arrests. Additionally, we found that neurons in the basolateral amygdala projecting to central amygdala mediate these momentary arrests. These findings uncover an amygdala circuit that mediates momentary exploratory arrests in familiar places, without changing place preference or anxiety/fear-like behaviors.