Su Xiaoya, Tang Yikai, Zhong Yi, Liu Yunlong
School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Beijing, 100084, China.
Neurosci Bull. 2025 Jul 16. doi: 10.1007/s12264-025-01456-7.
Our research reveals the critical role of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons in mediating light-induced transient forgetting. Acute exposure to bright light selectively impairs trace fear memory by activating VIP neurons in the SCN, as demonstrated by increased c-Fos expression and Ca recording. This effect can be replicated and reversed through optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations of SCN VIP neurons. Furthermore, we identify the SCN → PVT (paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus) VIP neuronal circuitry as essential in this process. These findings establish a novel role for SCN VIP neurons in modulating memory accessibility in response to environmental light cues, extending their known function beyond circadian regulation and revealing a mechanism for transient forgetting.
我们的研究揭示了视交叉上核（SCN）血管活性肠肽（VIP）神经元在介导光诱导的瞬时遗忘中的关键作用。如通过增加的c-Fos表达和钙记录所证明的，急性暴露于强光通过激活SCN中的VIP神经元选择性地损害痕迹恐惧记忆。这种效应可以通过对SCN VIP神经元的光遗传学和化学遗传学操作来复制和逆转。此外，我们确定SCN→丘脑室旁核（PVT）的VIP神经元回路在此过程中至关重要。这些发现确立了SCN VIP神经元在响应环境光信号调节记忆可及性方面的新作用，将它们已知的功能扩展到昼夜节律调节之外，并揭示了一种瞬时遗忘的机制。
