Subproject 5

Implementation of dynamic threat belief updating within cerebro-spinal systems and opioidergic pathways

Project PIs:

Dr. Jan Haaker

Prof. Dr. Christian Büchel

Accurate prediction of threats is key to thrive in dangerous environments. In volatile environments, threat prediction requires statistical learning of the environmental structure, not only to form threat beliefs, but also adaptively update such threat beliefs when the environment changes. Formation of threat beliefs have been found to engage cognitive computation in brain circuits, whereas the neural integration of aversive outcomes relies on sensory pathways that connect brain circuits with the spinal cord. Hence, one key question is if the neurobiological substrates of threat belief updating encompasses a cerebro-spinal neuraxis that integrates peripheral signals together with expectation of future threats.

We aim to unravel the interaction between spinal cord, brainstem, midbrain and forebrain during updating of internal threat belief states by synthesizing established models of threat learning with the cascade for belief updating. We further aim to delineate the influence of the endogenous opioid pathway – a system that is central to signal violation of threat expectations – on threat belief updating.