Neuronal competition and selection during memory formation.
Competition between neurons is necessary for refining neural circuits during development and may be important for selecting the neurons that participate in encoding memories in the adult brain. To examine neuronal competition during memory formation, we conducted experiments with mice in which we manipulated the function of CREB (adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate response element-binding protein) in subsets of neurons. Changes in CREB function influenced the probability that individual lateral amygdala neurons were recruited into a fear memory trace. Our results suggest a competitive model underlying memory formation, in which eligible neurons are selected to participate in amemorytrace as a function of their relative CREB activity at the time of learning.
Han
Jin-Hee
JH
Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada.
Kushner
Steven A
SA
Yiu
Adelaide P
AP
Cole
Christy J
CJ
Matynia
Anna
A
Brown
Robert A
RA
Neve
Rachael L
RL
Guzowski
John F
JF
Silva
Alcino J
AJ
Josselyn
Sheena A
SA
D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005239:Fear; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C092069:activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein