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Hippocampal GABA enables inhibitory control over unwanted thoughts

Author

Listed:
  • Taylor W. Schmitz

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
    University of Cambridge)

  • Marta M. Correia

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
    University of Cambridge)

  • Catarina S. Ferreira

    (University of Granada)

  • Andrew P. Prescot

    (University of Utah)

  • Michael C. Anderson

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
    University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Intrusive memories, images, and hallucinations are hallmark symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Although often attributed to deficient inhibitory control by the prefrontal cortex, difficulty in controlling intrusive thoughts is also associated with hippocampal hyperactivity, arising from dysfunctional GABAergic interneurons. How hippocampal GABA contributes to stopping unwanted thoughts is unknown. Here we show that GABAergic inhibition of hippocampal retrieval activity forms a key link in a fronto-hippocampal inhibitory control pathway underlying thought suppression. Subjects viewed reminders of unwanted thoughts and tried to suppress retrieval while being scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Suppression reduced hippocampal activity and memory for suppressed content. 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that greater resting concentrations of hippocampal GABA predicted better mnemonic control. Higher hippocampal, but not prefrontal GABA, predicted stronger fronto-hippocampal coupling during suppression, suggesting that interneurons local to the hippocampus implement control over intrusive thoughts. Stopping actions did not engage this pathway. These findings specify a multi-level mechanistic model of how the content of awareness is voluntarily controlled.

Suggested Citation

  • Taylor W. Schmitz & Marta M. Correia & Catarina S. Ferreira & Andrew P. Prescot & Michael C. Anderson, 2017. "Hippocampal GABA enables inhibitory control over unwanted thoughts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00956-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00956-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni Leone & Charlotte Postel & Alison Mary & Florence Fraisse & Thomas Vallée & Fausto Viader & Vincent Sayette & Denis Peschanski & Jaques Dayan & Francis Eustache & Pierre Gagnepain, 2022. "Altered predictive control during memory suppression in PTSD," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Zijian Zhu & Michael C. Anderson & Yingying Wang, 2022. "Inducing forgetting of unwanted memories through subliminal reactivation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.

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