Aversive memory reactivation engages in the amygdala only some neurotransmitters involved in consolidation.
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.
Bucherelli
Corrado
C
Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiologiche, Universitá di Firenze, 50134 Firenze, Italy.
Baldi
Elisabetta
E
Mariottini
Chiara
C
Passani
Maria Beatrice
MB
Blandina
Patrizio
P
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
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D012601:Scopolamine; C052075:thioperamide