title: Sequential exposure to a combination of stressors blocks memory reconsolidation in Lymnaea.
abstract: Stress alters the formation of long-term memory (LTM) in Lymnaea. When snails are exposed to more than one stressor, however, how the memory is altered becomes complicated. Here, we investigated how multiple stressors applied in a specific pattern affect an aspect of memory not often studied in regards to stress - reconsolidation. We hypothesized that the application of a sequence of stressors would block the reconsolidation process. Reconsolidation occurs following activation of a previously formed memory. Sequential crowding and handling were used as the stressors to block reconsolidation. When the two stressors were sequentially presented immediately following memory activation, reconsolidation was blocked. However, if the sequential presentation of the stressors was delayed for 1 h after memory activation, reconsolidation was not blocked. That is, LTM was observed. Finally, presentation of either stressor alone did not block reconsolidation. Thus, stressors can block reconsolidation, which may be preferable to pharmacological manipulations.
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1.
authors.forename: Shawn Xavier
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1 lukowiak@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lukowiak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003441:Crowding; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000502:physiology*; D057567:Memory, Long-Term; D013312:Stress, Physiological
keywords: Crowding; Long-term memory; Lymnaea stagnalis; Multiple stressors