title: The higher order auditory cortex is involved in the assignment of affective value to sensory stimuli.
abstract: The sensory cortex participates in emotional memory but its role is poorly understood. Here we show that inactivation of the higher order auditory cortex Te2 in rats during early memory consolidation impairs remote first- and second-order fear memories but not the association between two neutral cues. Furthermore, Te2 inactivation prevents changes in the valence of such information. Following the presentation of two auditory cues previously paired with either pleasant or painful stimuli, a large percentage of cells responds to both experiences but also a small fraction of neurons responds exclusively to one of them. The latter type of neurons signals the valence rather than the salience or the motor responses associated with the stimuli, and reflects selective associative processes. Pharmacogenetic silencing of memory-activated neurons causes amnesia. Thus, Te2 represents a crucial node for the assignment of the affective value to sensory stimuli and for the storage of such information.
authors.affiliation: Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.affiliation: Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cambiaghi
authors.affiliation: Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renna
authors.affiliation: Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roberto Merlo
authors.affiliation: Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Rita Levi-Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.|National Institute of Neuroscience-Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000647:Amnesia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar