Figure 1.

The nucleus incertus responds to stress and contributes to stress responses. The diagram summarises recent findings on the role of the nucleus incertus (NI) in stress. Stressors (yellow box) may directly or indirectly (activating the PVN and increasing CRF released) activate the NI as indicated by c‐Fos induction or enhanced expression of relaxin‐3 mRNA (blue box). Micro‐infusion of CRF or electrical stimulation of NI (green box) suppressed firing of mPFC neurons and LTP in the HP‐mPFC pathway. Stimulation of NI is also known to increase theta activity in the dorsal hippocampus. In addition, behavioural or pharmacological manipulations (purple box) such as food anticipation, exposure to spontaneous alternation tasks (SAT), pharmacological treatments (FG‐7142, PCPA and antipsychotics) have been shown to induce c‐Fos in the NI. dH: dorsal hippocampus; vH: ventral hippocampus; PCPA: para‐chlorophenylalanine.