Amygdala Research

As many things in science, a new discovery has been made. By accident. Scientists used optogenetics to alter the brain activities of a mouse. The lab previously studied a group of neurons in a part of the brain called the amygdala. The research and purpose of the experiment was to recognize how fear was linked to this part of the brain in both mice and humans. The known function of the amygdala is to administer emotions and the experiment looked for fear. The optogenetic technique the scientists used required fiber-optic cables to be inserted into the brain of the mouse. When the blue light was turned on, neurons were able to be activated or deactivated. Preparing the mice and conducting the experiment gave a result that was only by fortune. Researchers expected the light signal to cause the

Another possibility was that the group of neurons were activated by bad taste, causing the mouse to abandon the food. Seemingly, deep in the mouse brain, there is a small network of cells that restrains behavior, therefore turning off appetite. Since the amygdala is related to emotions and emotions are tied with appetite, this is the best possibility. And to turn the appetite off, the neurons must be stopped sending signals. That would require the researchers to use a different wavelength of light and a different genetic alteration. It may be likely that neurons in the amygdala are beneficial by allowing an animal to avoid unpleasant foods. However, many other areas of the brain are responsible for appetite as well. Since mice have this appetite control area, humans may have it as well. The discovery could help rectify understanding and solutions for eating disorders in humans. Electrical brain stimulation has been used on people with a case of severe depression with a result of success. In a case of a life threatening eating disorder, people could be presented with this option of optogenetics if the same appetite control network is