Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.11.19.389486v1?rss=1 Authors: Reis, F. M., Lee, J. Y., Maesta-Pereira, S., Schuette, P. J., Chakerian, M., Liu, J., La-Vu, M. Q., Tobias, B. C., Canteras, N., Kao, J. C., Adhikari, A. Abstract: Animals must balance needs to approach threats for risk-assessment and to avoid danger. The dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) controls defensive behaviors, but it is unknown how it represents states associated with threat approach and avoidance. We identified a dPAG threat-avoidance ensemble in mice that showed higher activity far from threats such as the open arms of the elevated plus maze and a live predator. These cells were also more active during threat-avoidance behaviors such as escape and freezing, even though these behaviors have antagonistic motor output. Conversely, the threat-approach ensemble was more active during risk-assessment behaviors and near threats. Furthermore, unsupervised methods showed approach/avoidance states were encoded with shared activity patterns across threats. Lastly, the relative number of cells in each ensemble predicted threat-avoidance across mice. Thus, dPAG ensembles dynamically encode threat approach and avoidance states, providing a flexible mechanism to balance risk-assessment and danger avoidance. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info