Luis Clara Ortega-de San, Pezzoli Maurizio, Urrieta Esteban, Ryan Tomás J
School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
bioRxiv. 2023 Sep 21:2023.09.21.558774. doi: 10.1101/2023.09.21.558774.
Information derived from experiences is incorporated into the brain as changes to ensembles of cells, termed engram cells, that allow memory storage and recall. The mechanism by which those changes hold specific information is unclear. Here we test the hypothesis that the specific synaptic wiring between engram cells is the substrate of information storage. First, we monitor how learning modifies the connectivity pattern between engram cells at a monosynaptic connection involving the hippocampal vCA1 region and the amygdala. Then, we assess the functional significance of these connectivity changes by artificially activating or inhibiting its presynaptic and postsynaptic components respectively. Finally, we identify a synaptic plasticity mechanism mediated by PSD-95, which impacts the connectivity pattern among engram cells and contributes to the long-term stability of the memory. These findings impact our theory of learning and memory by helping us explain the translation of specific information into engram cells and how these connections shape brain function.
从经历中获得的信息作为细胞集合（称为记忆印迹细胞）的变化被整合到大脑中，这些细胞集合允许记忆存储和回忆。这些变化承载特定信息的机制尚不清楚。在这里，我们测试这样一个假设，即记忆印迹细胞之间特定的突触连接是信息存储的基础。首先，我们监测学习如何在涉及海马体腹侧CA1区和杏仁核的单突触连接中改变记忆印迹细胞之间的连接模式。然后，我们分别通过人工激活或抑制其突触前和突触后成分来评估这些连接变化的功能意义。最后，我们确定了一种由PSD-95介导的突触可塑性机制，该机制影响记忆印迹细胞之间的连接模式，并有助于记忆的长期稳定性。这些发现通过帮助我们解释特定信息如何转化为记忆印迹细胞以及这些连接如何塑造大脑功能，影响了我们的学习和记忆理论。
