Researchers from the Synaptic Physiology laboratory at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), led by Juan Lerma, have identified a small but influential group of neurons in the amygdala that strongly affect emotional behavior. The Institute for Neurosciences (IN) is jointly run by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche. Their findings show that disrupted activity in these neurons can contribute to anxiety, depression, and altered social behavior.

The study, published in iScience, demonstrates that correcting the balance of neuronal excitability within a specific part of the amygdala is sufficient to reverse these behavioral changes in mice. This result highlights how precise changes in brain activity can have wide effects on emotional regulation.