HOME CAGE GAMMA OSCILLATION PATTERN IN THE RAT PRELIMBIC AREA PREDICTS BEHAVIOR IN THE MODIFIED SUCCESSIVE ALLEY PARADIGM

The role of gamma oscillations in regulating fear behavior has been widely implicated. Moreover, sub-ranges in this oscillatory range play distinct role in regulating fear behavior in fear conditioning paradigms. Excessive innate fear and behavioral avoidance are core features of anxiety disorders. Therefore, animal models, monitored in more naturalistic environments over longer periods of time, are of great translational value. Beyond basolateral amygdala (BLA), prefrontal cortex (PFC) oscillation and their functional connectivity are crucial in regulating fear behavior. However, whether PFC and BLA gamma oscillation patterns can predict innate fear behavior and voluntary risk taking, is still elusive.
We used the modified successive alley paradigm and investigated if gamma oscillatory pattern has a predictive power upon alley behavior. We recorded LFP activity in the home cage and when animals could enter the aversive succesive alley. We calculated the ratio of high (70-95) Hz and low (40-70 Hz) gamma power range. We checked also if PFC BLA functional connectivity is predictive for behavior in these oscillatory ranges.
We found that a) the modified paradigm can separate innate higher and lower fear level between trials. b) Only PFC home cage oscillatory patterns can predict fear level under later aversive conditions. c) The gamma subrange competition emerges at the level of functional connectivity between PFC and BLA. d) A PFC lead function in the high gamma subrange predicts behavioral performance.
We conclude that PFC gamma oscillations may represent a potential target for interventions aimed at modulating elevated innate fear and anxiety.