Molecular genetic identity is a vital but unexplored axis of functional organization in the brainstem periaqueductal gray.

High-resolution imaging shows that the different columns of the human periaqueductal gray play differential roles in the response to a respiratory threat.

Distinct dorsal periaqueductal gray ensembles encode threat approach and avoidance behavioral states.

Electrophysiological recordings and optogenetics reveal how the dorsal periaqueductal gray and basolateral amygdala interact in antipredatory responses, with a potential intermediary role for the midline thalamus.

Single-unit activity in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, a brain region implicated in organizing fear output, is found to reflect threat probability, a more versatile threat signal.

Building on previous work (Faull et al, 2016), it shown that the different connectivity profiles of the individual columns of the human periaqueductal gray support their proposed roles in human threat behaviours, such as freezing or fight/flight.

Cerebellar-periaqueductal grey interactions contribute to fear-conditioned processes and, as such, provide a novel target for treating psychological conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ventrolateral periaqueductal gray neurons signal fear output through patterned inhibition of neural activity.

Activity in the hypothalamic dorsal premammillary nucleus predicts future escape from threat, represents escape velocity, and controls escape velocity via a projection to the brainstem.

The mouse cerebellum regulates innate defensive neural circuitry by tonically controlling dopamine release in the periaqueductal gray, thereby modulating synaptic responses of the Chx10-positive neurons that generate freezing behavior.