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Christian Büchel
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience
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Mechanisms of fear conditioning have been implicated in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. In the context of conditioning the application of learning theoretical approaches including concepts of predictions and prediction errors, has facilitated a conceptual understanding of the underlying neuronal processes. So far, this approach was mainly restricted to appetitive conditioning. This research line aims at the identification of neuronal structures that signal prediction and prediction errors in the context of aversive conditioning. In addition, we will investigate the role of serotonin in the generation of predictions and prediction errors using a complementary strategy of genetics and pharmacological fMRI. A key hypothesis is that predictions and prediction errors for appetitive and aversive outcomes involve at least partially dissociable structures, like the amygdala for aversive and the ventral striatum for appetitive prediction errors, and different neurotransmitter systems, i.e. dopamine for appetitive and serotonin for aversive predictions and prediction errors.
Key publication(s):
Visual analysis of human faces has been suggested to be achieved by a core system comprising extrastriate ventral visual areas together with the amygdala. The amygdala in particular has been shown to play a pivotal role in the processing and recognition of emotional facial expression, especially fear and anger. Although many functional imaging studies showed amygdala activation to fearful face stimuli, exist, the core question is which process related to face perception is implemented in the amygdala.
Key publication(s):
Midbrain dopaminergic neurons projecting to the ventral striatum code for reward magnitude and probability during reward anticipation and then indicate the difference between actual and predicted outcome. It has been questioned whether such a common system for the prediction and evaluation of reward (prediction errors) exists in humans. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and guessing tasks we investigate the role of the orbitofrontal cortex and the ventral striatum in adolescents.
Key publication(s):
One way through which organisms learn about stimuli that predict danger is fear conditioning. In fear conditioning, the organism is exposed to an initially neutral stimulus [the conditioned stimulus (CS)], which is paired with an aversive stimulus [the unconditioned stimulus (US)]. As the animal learns that the CS predicts the US, the CS acquires aversive properties and is able to elicit conditioned fear responses. The endogenous opioid system is involved in fear learning in rodents, as opioid agonists attenuate and opioid antagonists facilitate the acquisition of conditioned fear. It has been suggested that an opioidergic signal, which is engaged through conditioning and acts inhibitory on unconditioned stimulus input, is the source of these effects.
We are particularly interested in whether blockade of endogenous opioid neurotransmission enhances acquisition of conditioned fear in humans, and to elucidate the neural underpinnings of such an effect.
In addition serotonergic neuromodulation has shown a pronounced behavioral effect on the acquisition of conditioned fear and thus we also investigate the role of this neurotransmitter system in conditioning.
Key publication(s):
