Dynamic behavior of the locus coeruleus during arousal-related memory processing in a multi-modal 7T fMRI paradigm

A body of animal and human evidence points to the norepinephrine (NE) locus coeruleus (LC) system in modulating memory for arousing experiences, but whether the LC would recast its role along memory stages remains unknown. Sedation precluded examination of LC dynamics during memory processing in ani...

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Published in:eLife 2020-06, Vol.9
Main Authors: Jacobs, Heidi Il, Priovoulos, Nikos, Poser, Benedikt A, Pagen, Linda Hg, Ivanov, Dimo, Verhey, Frans Rj, Uludağ, Kâmil
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
alpha-Amylases - chemistry
alpha-Amylases - metabolism
Amygdala
Arousal
autonomic tone
Brain research
Cognition
Emotions
Female
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Heart Rate
Hippocampus
Human Biology and Medicine
Humans
Locus coeruleus
Locus Coeruleus - physiology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory
Memory - physiology
Mental task performance
Neuroscience
Noise
Norepinephrine
Physiology
Saliva
Saliva - enzymology
ultra-high-field
Young Adult
Young adults
α-Amylase
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Summary:A body of animal and human evidence points to the norepinephrine (NE) locus coeruleus (LC) system in modulating memory for arousing experiences, but whether the LC would recast its role along memory stages remains unknown. Sedation precluded examination of LC dynamics during memory processing in animals. Here, we addressed the contribution of the LC during arousal-associated memory processing through a unique combination of dedicated ultra-high-field LC-imaging methods, a well-established emotional memory task, online physiological and saliva alpha-amylase measurements in young adults. Arousal-related LC activation followed amygdala engagement during encoding. During consolidation and recollection, activation transitioned to hippocampal involvement, reflecting learning and model updating. NE-LC activation is dynamic, plays an arousal-controlling role, and is not sufficient but requires interactions with the amygdala to form adaptive memories of emotional experiences. These findings have implications for understanding contributions of LC dysregulation to disruptions in emotional memory formation, observed in psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders.
ISSN:2050-084X
2050-084X
DOI:10.7554/eLife.52059