Brain-wide spatiotemporally distinct traveling waves drive anxiety-like behaviors in mice
Motivation: Even though traveling waves coordinate neural communication to modulate brain function and dysfunction, their propagation dynamics and functional roles remain unclear. Goal(s): We investigate brain-wide spatiotemporal propagation properties of traveling waves and their effects on behaviors. Approach: Using optogenetics alongside fMRI in mice. Results: We demenstrated that optogenetic activation induces cortical spreading depression (CSD)-like traveling waves. These waves propagate beyond the ipsilateral cortex to subcortical structures along cortico-amygdalar-striatal pathways, ultimately terminating in striatum. Propagation directions, speed, duration, and region involvement vary with origins. CSD-like waves induce anxiety-like behaviors by increasing dendritic spine density. Impact: Our study provide brain-wide view of the traveling wave propagation and reveals their functional role in inducing anxiety.
Authors
- Xiong Cao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1889-4255)
- Yanqiu Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2807-5974)
- Ziqi An (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8544-8749)
- Chuanjun Tong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0288-1537)
- Xunda Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7933-0755)
- EX Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5581-1546)
- Peng‐Li Kong
- Ying Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3105-375X)
- Li Ding (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6368-7776)
- Jia‐Wen Mo
- Chenglin Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1837-5358)
- Qiugen Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4642-9131)
- Jiaming Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8444-9136)
- Jing Ren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5778-4676)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition
- Published
- 2025-09-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.58530/2025/1349
- Primary Topic
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00