Amygdala inputs to prefrontal cortex guide behavior amid conflicting cues of reward and punishment

Orchestrating appropriate behavioral responses in the face of competing signals that predict either rewards or threats in the environment is crucial for survival. The basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) and prelimbic (PL) medial prefrontal cortex have been implicated in reward-seeking and fear-related responses, but how information flows between these reciprocally connected structures to coordinate behavior is unknown. We recorded neuronal activity from the BLA and PL while rats performed a task wherein competing shock- and sucrose-predictive cues were simultaneously presented. The correlated firing primarily displayed a BLA→PL directionality during the shock-associated cue. Furthermore, BLA neurons optogenetically identified as projecting to PL more accurately predicted behavioral responses during competition than unidentified BLA neurons. Finally photostimulation of the BLA→PL projection increased freezing, whereas both chemogenetic and optogenetic inhibition reduced freezing. Therefore, the BLA→PL circuit is critical in governing the selection of behavioral responses in the face of competing signals.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Award 1R25-MH092912-01)National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (Grant R01- MH102441-01)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Award DP2- DK-102256-01

Enhancing the Community College Pathway to Engineering Careers

This 119-page book is provided by the National Academy Press and discusses Community college pathways to engineering careers. "This report describes how some community colleges and four-year educational institutions have facilitated the transfer process for students transferring from two-year engineering-science programs to four-year engineering programs. The report also provides recommendations for improving transfers overall and otherwise enhancing the role of community colleges in educating engineers."The book includes a table of contents and the following sections: Overview, Successful Transfer of Students to Four-Year Institutions; Recruitment and Retention, Curricular Content, Quality, and Standards; Diversity in The Engineering Workforce; Data Collection; Report Summary; and Appendixes. This book is available to purchase or download free.Â