Theta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxiety

Summary Addiction and anxiety are two prevalent psychiatric conditions characterized by complex neurobiological mechanisms. It is supported by theta-range (4–12 Hz) neural oscillations that coordinate distant brain regions, such as ventral tegmental area (VTA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Ho...

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Main Authors: Yulong Shi, Jie Lei, Chi Cui, Yibo Yao, Kun Ren, Gangan Luo, Xueke Yang, Xiang Peng, Ming Li, Jian Yang, Tongxia Li, Sitong Chen, Junsong Du, Bo Tian, Pei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:Translational Psychiatry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03427-y
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author Yulong Shi
Jie Lei
Chi Cui
Yibo Yao
Kun Ren
Gangan Luo
Xueke Yang
Xiang Peng
Ming Li
Jian Yang
Tongxia Li
Sitong Chen
Junsong Du
Bo Tian
Pei Zhang
author_facet Yulong Shi
Jie Lei
Chi Cui
Yibo Yao
Kun Ren
Gangan Luo
Xueke Yang
Xiang Peng
Ming Li
Jian Yang
Tongxia Li
Sitong Chen
Junsong Du
Bo Tian
Pei Zhang
author_sort Yulong Shi
collection DOAJ
description Summary Addiction and anxiety are two prevalent psychiatric conditions characterized by complex neurobiological mechanisms. It is supported by theta-range (4–12 Hz) neural oscillations that coordinate distant brain regions, such as ventral tegmental area (VTA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, the systematic investigation comparing the analogous and distinct mechanisms of theta oscillations in the mPFC and VTA across these two psychiatric disorders is still needed. Here, we investigate the theta-range (4–12 Hz) local field potential (LFP) signals of the mPFC and VTA in the ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and emotional stress-related anxiety-like behavior animal models. We found that the theta oscillation exhibits a significant correlation between the mPFC and VTA in both the two models of male mice. Granger causality suggests that the VTA clearly drives the mPFC in theta band. Our findings suggest potential parallels between the mechanisms of addiction and anxiety, as indicated by the observed theta changes. Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying these changes and their functional impact is necessary to substantiate this link.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2158-3188
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Translational Psychiatry
spelling doaj-art-82011aa3c60d4aca95d79c0cf62cdacc2025-08-20T02:10:35ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882025-06-0115111410.1038/s41398-025-03427-yTheta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxietyYulong Shi0Jie Lei1Chi Cui2Yibo Yao3Kun Ren4Gangan Luo5Xueke Yang6Xiang Peng7Ming Li8Jian Yang9Tongxia Li10Sitong Chen11Junsong Du12Bo Tian13Pei Zhang14Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologySchool of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologySummary Addiction and anxiety are two prevalent psychiatric conditions characterized by complex neurobiological mechanisms. It is supported by theta-range (4–12 Hz) neural oscillations that coordinate distant brain regions, such as ventral tegmental area (VTA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, the systematic investigation comparing the analogous and distinct mechanisms of theta oscillations in the mPFC and VTA across these two psychiatric disorders is still needed. Here, we investigate the theta-range (4–12 Hz) local field potential (LFP) signals of the mPFC and VTA in the ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and emotional stress-related anxiety-like behavior animal models. We found that the theta oscillation exhibits a significant correlation between the mPFC and VTA in both the two models of male mice. Granger causality suggests that the VTA clearly drives the mPFC in theta band. Our findings suggest potential parallels between the mechanisms of addiction and anxiety, as indicated by the observed theta changes. Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying these changes and their functional impact is necessary to substantiate this link.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03427-y
spellingShingle Yulong Shi
Jie Lei
Chi Cui
Yibo Yao
Kun Ren
Gangan Luo
Xueke Yang
Xiang Peng
Ming Li
Jian Yang
Tongxia Li
Sitong Chen
Junsong Du
Bo Tian
Pei Zhang
Theta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxiety
Translational Psychiatry
title Theta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxiety
title_full Theta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxiety
title_fullStr Theta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxiety
title_full_unstemmed Theta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxiety
title_short Theta oscillation synchronize VTA and mPFC during ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and stress-evoked anxiety
title_sort theta oscillation synchronize vta and mpfc during ethanol induced conditioned place preference and stress evoked anxiety
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03427-y
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