title: Reconsolidation and memory infidelity in Lymnaea.
abstract: Lymnaea stagnalis were operantly conditioned to not perform aerial respiratory behaviour in a specific context (i.e. context-1). The memory for this learned response was reactivated 3 days later in context-1. During the 1 h reconsolidation period following memory reactivation, randomly picked snails were either maintained in context-1 or exposed to a new context (i.e. context-2). One hour later in the post-reconsolidation period, snails in context-1 were placed for 1 h in context-2 and vice-versa. In neither the hypoxic reconsolidation nor the post reconsolidation periods did snails receive a reinforcing stimulus when they opened their pneumostome. All snails were blindly tested for memory 24 h later period in context-2. Only those snails that had been exposed to context-2 during the reconsolidation period exhibited 'memory' for context-2. That is, memory infidelity was observed. Snails exposed to context-2 in only the post-reconsolidation period did not show memory for context-2. The immediate cooling of snails after their exposure to the new context in the reconsolidation period blocked the formation the implanted memory. Snails trained in context-1 and exposed to context-2 in the consolidation period only, also did not have memory for context-2. However, the memory for context-1 could still be recalled following successful implantation of the 'new' memory. All data presented here are consistent with the notion that during the reconsolidation process memory can be updated.
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. lukowiak@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lukowiak
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fras
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hittel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors