title: New frontiers in the study of memory mechanisms.
abstract: We review recent work on three major lines of memory research: a) the possible role of the protein kinase M-zeta (PKMzeta) in memory persistence; b) the processes of "synaptic tagging and capture" in memory formation; c) the modulation of extinction learning, widely used in the psychotherapy of fear memories under the name of "exposure therapy". PKMzeta is a form of protein kinase C (PKC) that apparently remains stimulated for months after the consolidation of a given memory. Synaptic tagging is a mechanism whereby the weak activation of one synapse can tag it with a protein so other synapses in the same cell can reactivate it by producing other proteins that bind to the tag. Extinction, once mistakenly labeled as a form of forgetting, is by itself a form of learning; through it animals can learn to inhibit a response. We now know it can be modulated by neurotransmitters or by synaptic tagging, which should enable better control of its clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Memory Center, Brain Institute, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane R G
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Furini
authors.forename: Jociane C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Myskiw
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benetti
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
mesh_terms: D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011493:Protein Kinase C