The main author, Andrew Luskin, a researcher expert in neurology, explains that a small group of neurons located in the depths of our brain, in the “Coeruleus locus” or subcortical nucleus located in the cerebral trunk, influences our state of awakening and attention, our reaction to stress, our management of anxiety and fear, as well as the creation of memories and learning.
Coeruleus locus, or “blue point” in Latin, is also involved in a wide range of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxious and depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome (SSPT) and Alzheimer’s disease. Despite its key role, the functioning of the Coeruleus locus remains relatively poorly known. We know, however, that locus cœruleus receives information from the entire central nervous system (SNC) and also transmits signals, in the form of noradrenaline, through the brain. It is also unknown how the how Locus Coeruleus processes the information received, nor how it affects the quantity of liberated noradrenaline.
The studyconducted in mice, focuses on the reaction of specific neurons, located near the room cœruswhen the mice were exposed to different stimuli increasing the awakening. This observation notes that:
- These stimuli tend to cause the peri-lc release of an inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA);
- These increased levels of gama decrease the activity of the neurons of the Coeruleus locus and reduce their release of noradrenaline: “The peri-LC cells apparently act as a radio circuit capable of increasing or decreasing the intensity of the response of cells from the Coeruleus locus to incoming signals”.
- A small group of cells located near the Coeruleus locus, called peri-lc neurons, seems to play a key role in regulating information processing carried out by the Coeruleus locus;
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This small group of specialized neurons thus constitutes a kind of intensity of the response to stress, anxiety and fear.
These results help explain how we react appropriately to different challenges, explains Andrew Luskin: “Traditionally, peri-LC neurons have been considered a kind of intensity variator of the level of brain awakening but they also constitute a variator of our response to stress”.
This new understanding of how our brain regulates awakening, attention and our response to stress and fear, also opens the way New therapeutic tracks for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
