title: Reactivation-dependent amnesia in Pavlovian approach and instrumental transfer.
abstract: The theory of memory reconsolidation relates to the hypothesized restabilisation process that occurs following the reactivation of a memory through retrieval. Thus the demonstration of reactivation-dependent amnesia for a previously acquired memory is a prerequisite for showing that such a memory undergoes reconsolidation. Here we show that the appetitive Pavlovian representations that underlie Pavlovian approach and Pavlovian-instrumental transfer are destabilized following their retrieval. This reactivation-dependent amnesia demonstrates that the general motivational or incentive properties of appetitive conditioned stimuli, as well as their conditioned reinforcing properties, can be reduced by blocking memory reconsolidation.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom. joff@cantab.net
authors.forename: Jonathan L C
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Everitt
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000647:Amnesia; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D011433:Propranolol