Brain-derived neurotrophic factor interacts with adult-born immature cells in the dentate gyrus during consolidation of overlapping memories.
Successful memory involves not only remembering information over time but also keeping memories distinct and less confusable. The computational process for making representations of similar input patterns more distinct from each other has been referred to as "pattern separation." Although adult-born immature neurons have been implicated in this memory feature, the precise role of these neurons and associated molecules in the processing of overlapping memories is unknown. Recently, we found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the dentate gyrus is required for the encoding/consolidation of overlapping memories. In this study, we provide evidence that consolidation of these "pattern-separated" memories requires the action of BDNF on immature neurons specifically.
Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; MRC and Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Translational and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Pedro
P
Bekinschtein
Brianne A
BA
Kent
Charlotte A
CA
Oomen
Gregory D
GD
Clemenson
Fred H
FH
Gage
Lisa M
LM
Saksida
Timothy J
TJ
Bussey
D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
BDNF; dentate gyrus; memory consolidation; neurogenesis