Consistent with our prediction, we found dramatically enhanced long-term potentiation in the lateral nucleus and a significantly enhanced and persistent memory of fear. The effect proved to be remarkably specific to learned fear: the same mutant mice showed normal innate fear on a variety of other tests. This finding is consistent with the fundamental distinction between learned and innate fear. Thus, a combined cellular and genetic approach allowed us to identify a neural circuit that is important for holding learned fear in check. The discovery could lead to the development of drugs that
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