This project investigates the neurobiological mechanisms of negative expectation effects in an animal model for learned sickness behaviour. The effects of a previous negative treatment experience on the intensity of sickness symptoms will be analysed at behavioural, physiological and neural level. The particular importance of the central fear network and insula for the initiation and maintenance of negative expectation effects will be investigated through chemogenetic inhibition of neural activity in these areas of the brain.

Recommended reading:

Doenlen R, Krügel U, Wirth T, Riether C, Engler A, Prager G, Engler H, Schedlowski M, Pacheco-López G (2011) Electrical activity in rat corticolimbic structures after single or repeated administration of lipopolysaccharide or staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Proc Royal Soc B Biol Sci 278: 1864-1872. PubMed

Engler H, Brendt P, Wischermann J, Wegner A, Röhling R, Schoemberg T, Meyer U, Gold R, Peters J, Benson S, Schedlowski M (2017) Selective increase of cerebrospinal fluid IL-6 during experimental systemic inflammation in humans: association with depressive symptoms. Mol Psychiatry 22: 1448-1454. PubMed

Prager G, Hadamitzky M, Engler A, Doenlen R, Wirth T, Pacheco-Lopez G, Krugel U, Schedlowski M, Engler H (2013) Amygdaloid signature of peripheral immune activation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide or staphylococcal enterotoxin B. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 8: 42-50. PubMed