title: Engineering a memory with LTD and LTP.
abstract: It has been proposed that memories are encoded by modification of synaptic strengths through cellular mechanisms such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). However, the causal link between these synaptic processes and memory has been difficult to demonstrate. Here we show that fear conditioning, a type of associative memory, can be inactivated and reactivated by LTD and LTP, respectively. We began by conditioning an animal to associate a foot shock with optogenetic stimulation of auditory inputs targeting the amygdala, a brain region known to be essential for fear conditioning. Subsequent optogenetic delivery of LTD conditioning to the auditory input inactivates memory of the shock. Then subsequent optogenetic delivery of LTP conditioning to the auditory input reactivates memory of the shock. Thus, we have engineered inactivation and reactivation of a memory using LTD and LTP, supporting a causal link between these synaptic processes and memory.
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience and Section of Neurobiology, University of California at San Diego, California 92093, USA [2].
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience and Section of Neurobiology, University of California at San Diego, California 92093, USA [2].
authors.forename: Rocky
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience and Section of Neurobiology, University of California at San Diego, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Christophe D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Proulx
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: John Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, California 92093, USA [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Roger Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Tsien
authors.affiliation: Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience and Section of Neurobiology, University of California at San Diego, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malinow
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission