Chronic noise stress affects neocortical and hippocampal-amygdala functional connectivity in mice
Date
2020
Authors
Sholomiski, Megan
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and science
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Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience
Abstract
This thesis examines the effects of chronic noise stress on neocortical and hippocampal-amygdala networks and their behavioural correlates. Psychological symptoms of stress, including anxiety and depression, are thought to be caused by alterations in functional connectivity within the brain. A functional pathway has been established between the basolateral amygdala, which mediates emotional responses to stressors, the ventral hippocampus which provides context to emotional memories and experiences, and medial prefrontal cortex, which alters attention and perception of stressors. This network is adaptive in the presence of an acute stressor, allowing an organism to optimally prepare and deal with the source of stress, but may become dysfunctional when exposed to chronic stress. The hypotheses that chronic noise stress correlates to neocortical hyperconnectivity and decreased synchrony between the amygdala and hippocampus, correlates to altered behaviour, and correlates to altered brain morphology were tested in head-fixed mice using optical imaging and behavioural recordings.
Description
Keywords
Dissertations, Academic , Stress (Psychology) -- Animal models , Amygdaloid body , Anxiety , Depression, Mental -- Animal models , Hippocampus (Brain) , Noise -- Health aspects