Research reportElectrolytic lesions of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis disrupt freezing and startle potentiation in a conditioned context

Expression of contextual anxiety in a previously shocked context is a widely used model of anxiety, with the main behavioral measures being freezing or startle amplitude. There is extensive evidence that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) is involved in several anxiety paradigms, e.g. BST lesions disrupt contextual freezing. Surprisingly, studies investigating the effect on startle potentiation in a conditioned context are still lacking in the literature. In the present study, we found that post-training bilateral electrolytic lesions in the BST completely disrupted the expression of contextual anxiety, as quantified with combined measurements of startle amplitude and freezing.

► Startle potentiation is a widely used measure of conditioned fear or anxiety. ► The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis is involved in several anxiety paradigms. ► To date, the BST's role in startle potentiation after contextual conditioning remains unexamined. ► We show that BST lesions disrupt startle potentiation in a conditioned context.