Memory reconsolidation mediates the strengthening of memories by additional learning

Nat Neurosci. 2008 Nov;11(11):1264-6. doi: 10.1038/nn.2205. Epub 2008 Oct 12.

Abstract

Memories are dynamic, rather than static, in nature. The reactivation of a memory through re-exposure to salient training stimuli results in its destabilization, necessitating a restabilization process known as reconsolidation, a disruption of which leads to amnesia. I found that one normal function of hippocampal memory reconsolidation in rats is to modify the strength of a contextual-fear memory as a result of further learning.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amnesia / chemically induced
  • Amnesia / physiopathology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Anisomycin / pharmacology
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / chemistry
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1 / chemistry
  • Fear / drug effects
  • Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Lactones / pharmacology
  • Learning / drug effects
  • Learning / physiology*
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Rats

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1
  • Egr1 protein, rat
  • Lactones
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone
  • Anisomycin