Research Projects

Learned helplessness (LH) is a condition where an inescapable stimulus is repeatedly presented, leading to neuropsychological conditions such as stress, anxiety, motivational and cognitive deficits, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The consequences of LH can be long-lasting, as children of LH parents may also suffer from it. The development of LH is influenced by neural input from the prefrontal cortex to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), which activates serotonergic neurons of DRN. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex detects the probability of escape, while DRN neurons help develop passivity through its input to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and amygdala. The locus coeruleus (LC) and hippocampus also play a role in LH. The study proposes investigating the role of glutamatergic neuronal activation and sensitization in LH animals. The hypothesis is that hippocampal and DRN neurons would exhibit neural sensitization in LH animals, while neurons in the PAG, PFC, and LC would not. Rats will be trained for LH development, and neuronal activity will be characterized through changes in c-fos protein expression. The study aims to determine if LH influences the activity of glutamatergic neurons and if they are sensitized with the progression of LH development. The results will provide insights into developing treatment for LH and associated cognitive and motivational decline.