Neuroplasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is essential for fear extinction, the process of which forms the basis of the general therapeutic process used to treat human fear disorders. However, the underlying molecules and local circuit elements controlling neuronal activity and concomitant induction of plasticity remain unclear. Here we show that sustained plasticity of the parvalbumin (PV) neuronal network in the infralimbic (IL) mPFC is required for fear extinction in adult male mice and identify the involvement of neuregulin 1-ErbB4 signalling in PV network plasticity-mediated fear extinction. Moreover, regulation of fear extinction by basal medial amygdala (BMA)-projecting IL neurons is dependent on PV network configuration. Together, these results uncover the local molecular circuit mechanisms underlying mPFC-mediated top-down control of fear extinction, suggesting alterative therapeutic approaches to treat fear disorders.

内侧前额叶皮层 (mPFC) 的神经可塑性对于消除恐惧至关重要，其过程构成了用于治疗人类恐惧症的一般治疗过程的基础。然而，控制神经元活动和伴随的可塑性诱导的基础分子和局部电路元件仍不清楚。在这里，我们表明下边缘 (IL) mPFC 中小白蛋白 (PV) 神经元网络的持续可塑性是成年雄性小鼠恐惧消退所必需的，并确定神经调节蛋白 1-ErbB4 信号参与 PV 网络可塑性介导的恐惧消退。此外，基底内侧杏仁核 (BMA) 投射 IL 神经元对恐惧消退的调节取决于 PV 网络配置。一起，