title: Schema-dependent gene activation and memory encoding in neocortex.
abstract: When new learning occurs against the background of established prior knowledge, relevant new information can be assimilated into a schema and thereby expand the knowledge base. An animal model of this important component of memory consolidation reveals that systems memory consolidation can be very fast. In experiments with rats, we found that the hippocampal-dependent learning of new paired associates is associated with a striking up-regulation of immediate early genes in the prelimbic region of the medial prefrontal cortex, and that pharmacological interventions targeted at that area can prevent both new learning and the recall of remotely and even recently consolidated information. These findings challenge the concept of distinct fast (hippocampal) and slow (cortical) learning systems, and shed new light on the neural mechanisms of memory assimilation into schemas.
authors: Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK.
authors: Dorothy
authors: D
authors: Tse
authors: Tomonori
authors: T
authors: Takeuchi
authors: Masaki
authors: M
authors: Kakeyama
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Kajii
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Okuno
authors: Chiharu
authors: C
authors: Tohyama
authors: Haruhiko
authors: H
authors: Bito
authors: Richard G M
authors: RG
authors: Morris
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003463:Cues; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D019579:Neocortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486110:Egr1 protein, rat; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C092069:activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione