title: Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory Memory.
abstract: Memories formed early in life are particularly stable and influential, representing privileged experiences that shape enduring behaviors. We show that exposing newly hatched C. elegans to pathogenic bacteria results in persistent aversion to those bacterial odors, whereas adult exposure generates only transient aversive memory. Long-lasting imprinted aversion has a critical period in the first larval stage and is specific to the experienced pathogen. Distinct groups of neurons are required during formation (AIB, RIM) and retrieval (AIY, RIA) of the imprinted memory. RIM synthesizes the neuromodulator tyramine, which is required in the L1 stage for learning. AIY memory retrieval neurons sense tyramine via the SER-2 receptor, which is essential for imprinted, but not for adult-learned, aversion. Odor responses in several neurons, most notably RIA, are altered in imprinted animals. These findings provide insight into neuronal substrates of different forms of memory, and lay a foundation for further understanding of early learning.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Navin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pokala
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: cori@rockefeller.edu.
authors.forename: Cornelia I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Bargmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D007173:Imprinting, Psychological; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017982:Receptors, Biogenic Amine / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell; D014439:Tyramine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017982:Receptors, Biogenic Amine; C496144:SER-2 protein, C elegans; D014439:Tyramine