Cognitive psychology

Ecology

Communication

Neuroscience

Biology

Predation

Retina

Predator

Ventral tegmental area

Dopamine

Looming

Superior Colliculi

Biological neural network

Dopaminergic

Visual system

Psychology

Electrophysiology

Superior colliculus

Optogenetics

Trends in Neurosciences

Threat avoidance, particularly from predators, is key for survival. Through the use of optogenetics, viral tracing, and electrophysiological recordings, Zhou and colleagues identified a superior colliculus to ventral tegmental area pathway in detecting alarming visual cues and mediating defensive behaviors in mice. These findings provide novel insight into the neural circuit underlying innate predator defense.

Looming Danger: Unraveling the Circuitry for Predator Threats