Cellular and systems reconsolidation in the hippocampus

Neuron. 2002 Oct 24;36(3):527-38. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)01001-2.

Abstract

Cellular theories of memory consolidation posit that new memories require new protein synthesis in order to be stored. Systems consolidation theories posit that the hippocampus has a time-limited role in memory storage, after which the memory is independent of the hippocampus. Here, we show that intra-hippocampal infusions of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin caused amnesia for a consolidated hippocampal-dependent contextual fear memory, but only if the memory was reactivated prior to infusion. The effect occurred even if reactivation was delayed for 45 days after training, a time when contextual memory is independent of the hippocampus. Indeed, reactivation of a hippocampus-independent memory caused the trace to again become hippocampus dependent, but only for 2 days rather than for weeks. Thus, hippocampal memories can undergo reconsolidation at both the cellular and systems levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amnesia, Retrograde / chemically induced
  • Amnesia, Retrograde / metabolism
  • Amnesia, Retrograde / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Anisomycin / pharmacology
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
  • Fear / drug effects
  • Fear / physiology
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / injuries
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced
  • Memory Disorders / metabolism*
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology
  • Models, Neurological
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Neural Pathways / drug effects
  • Neural Pathways / metabolism*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Anisomycin