title: Role of amygdala oscillations in the consolidation of emotional memories.
abstract: Much evidence indicates that emotional arousal generally improves memory and that the amygdala is responsible for this effect. The available data suggest that stress hormones and neuromodulators released in emotionally arousing conditions alter the activity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) neurons in the hours after the learning episode. In turn, these changes would facilitate synaptic plasticity elsewhere in the brain; however, the biological mechanisms underlying the facilitation of memory consolidation by the BLA remain unknown. This article focuses on data suggesting that synchronized oscillatory BLA activity promotes synaptic plasticity by facilitating interactions between neocortical and temporal lobe areas involved in declarative memory.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
authors.forename: Joe Guillaume
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paré
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents