The Minmin Luo Laboratory at the Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) published a research article titled "A Corticoamygdalar Pathway Controls Reward Devaluation and Depression Using Dynamic Inhibition Code" in Neuron on September 20, 2023. The study reveals that pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), especially a type of ACC neurons that project to the basolateral amygdala (BLA), can encode and regulate reward devaluation. Manipulating these neurons can adjust the sensitivity of mice to reward devaluation, leading to overconsumption or underconsumption of rewards and subsequently developing into obesity or depression-like states. On the other hand, manipulating these neurons in the opposite way can be utilized to attempt to treat related diseases such as depression.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.08.022