Hoiyin Cheung

Abstract Engrams are formed by activity-dependent recruitment of subsets of excitatory principal neurons, whereas inhibitory neurons mediate memory lability and stability. It remains elusive whether specific types of interneurons are preferentially engaged in determining the fate of memory.

Abstract Benzodiazepines, commonly used for anxiolytics, hinder conditioned fear extinction, and the underlying circuit mechanisms are unclear. Utilizing remimazolam, an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, we reveal its impact on the thalamic nucleus reuniens (RE) and interconnected hippocamposeptal circuits during fear extinction. Systemic or RE-specific administration of remimazolam impedes fear extinction by reducing RE activation through A type GABA receptors.