神经元是根据训练前的相对神经元兴奋性被募集到记忆痕迹中的。

Neurons are recruited to a memory trace based on relative neuronal excitability immediately before training.

机构信息

Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.

出版信息

Neuron. 2014 Aug 6;83(3):722-35. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.07.017.

DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2014.07.017

PMID:25102562

Abstract

Memories are thought to be sparsely encoded in neuronal networks, but little is known about why a given neuron is recruited or allocated to a particular memory trace. Previous research shows that in the lateral amygdala (LA), neurons with increased CREB are selectively recruited to a fear memory trace. CREB is a ubiquitous transcription factor implicated in many cellular processes. Which process mediates neuronal memory allocation? One hypothesis is that CREB increases neuronal excitability to bias neuronal recruitment, although this has not been shown experimentally. Here we use several methods to increase neuronal excitability and show this both biases recruitment into the memory trace and enhances memory formation. Moreover, artificial activation of these neurons alone is a sufficient retrieval cue for fear memory expression, showing that these neurons are critical components of the memory trace. These results indicate that neuronal memory allocation is based on relative neuronal excitability immediately before training.

摘要

记忆被认为是以稀疏的方式编码在神经元网络中的，但对于为什么特定的神经元被招募或分配到特定的记忆痕迹，知之甚少。先前的研究表明，在外侧杏仁核（LA）中，CREB 增加的神经元被选择性地招募到恐惧记忆痕迹中。CREB 是一种普遍存在的转录因子，涉及许多细胞过程。哪种过程介导神经元记忆分配？一种假设是 CREB 增加神经元的兴奋性以偏向神经元的招募，尽管这尚未在实验中得到证明。在这里，我们使用几种方法来增加神经元的兴奋性，并表明这既偏向于将神经元招募到记忆痕迹中，又增强了记忆形成。此外，单独人工激活这些神经元本身就是恐惧记忆表达的充分检索线索，表明这些神经元是记忆痕迹的关键组成部分。这些结果表明，神经元记忆分配是基于训练前神经元兴奋性的相对水平。