title: Aversive memory reactivation engages in the amygdala only some neurotransmitters involved in consolidation.
abstract: Consolidation refers to item stabilization in long-term memory. Retrieval renders a consolidated memory sensitive, and a "reconsolidation" process has been hypothesized to keep the original memory persistent. Some authors could not detect this phenomenon. Here we show that retrieved contextual fear memory is vulnerable to amnesic treatments and that the amygdala is critically involved. Cholinergic and histaminergic systems seem to modulate only consolidation, whereas cannabinoids are involved in both consolidation and reactivation. The lability of retrieved memory affords opportunities to treat disorders such as phobias, post-traumatic stress, or chronic pain, and these results help searching for appropriate therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiologiche, Universitá di Firenze, 50134 Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucherelli
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariottini
authors.forename: Maria Beatrice
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Passani
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blandina
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D012601:Scopolamine; C052075:thioperamide