Possibility of "superfast" consolidation of long-term memory.
Two new behavioural tests in rats are described which demonstrate the fast consolidation of the long-term memory (LTM) in a dangerous natural situation (water escape). It is shown that after one-trial learning of the motor skill (jumping out of the water), long-term memory traces are retained without forgetting and are resistant to the blockade of M-cholinoreceptors by scopolamine (2 mg/kg) and of D1/D2 dopamine receptors by haloperidol (10 mg/kg) as well as electroconvulsive shock applied tank wall, learning of necessary motor skills, automatization and minimization of the skilled movements in 1.5-3.0 min, after 5 to 7 trials at two-second intervals (superfast learning) is demonstrated. It is suggested that the superfast consolidation of LTM (several minutes) is possible in life-threatening situations, the necessary time being 1-2 orders of magnitude less than it is generally accepted in the modern theories of memory. The proposed behavioural models may be helpful in investigation of some fundamental physiological and molecular mechanisms of stable neuronal interactions, as a basis for LTM consolidation.
Podolski IYa
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia. podolski@venus.iteb.serpukhov.su
D000818:Animals; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004597:Electroshock; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D012601:Scopolamine; D006220:Haloperidol