The role of serotonin (5-HT) in behaviour may be influenced by environmental variables. Using calcium imaging, Seo et al. showed that 5-HTergic neurons in the mouse dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) are less active during movement in low- or medium-threat scenarios (in an open field test or cued reward or cued avoidance tasks) and more active during movement in high-threat situations (the tail-suspension test and during escape from a foot shock). Photostimulation of 5-HTergic DRN neurons reduced and promoted movement in low-threat and high-threat environments, respectively. Thus, DRN 5-HTergic neurons may switch effects on movement depending on threat.
References
Original article
Seo, C. et al. Intense threat switches dorsal raphe serotonin neurons to a paradoxical operational mode. Science 363, 538–542 (2019)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bray, N. A scary switch for serotonin. Nat Rev Neurosci 20, 191 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-019-0143-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-019-0143-3