Protein Synthesis Subserves Reconsolidation or Extinction Depending on Reminder Duration

When learned associations are recalled from long-term memory stores by presentation of an unreinforced conditioned stimulus (CS), two processes are initiated. One, termed reconsolidation, re-activates the association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and transfers it from a stable pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2003-06, Vol.38 (6), p.863-869
Main Authors: Pedreira, Marı́a Eugenia, Maldonado, Héctor
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brachyura - physiology
Conditioning (Psychology)
Cycloheximide - pharmacology
Escape Reaction - physiology
Hypotheses
Learning - physiology
Male
Memory - physiology
Models, Animal
Protein Biosynthesis
Protein synthesis
Protein Synthesis Inhibitors - pharmacology
Proteins
Retention
Variance analysis
Vision, Ocular
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Summary:When learned associations are recalled from long-term memory stores by presentation of an unreinforced conditioned stimulus (CS), two processes are initiated. One, termed reconsolidation, re-activates the association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and transfers it from a stable protein synthesis-independent form of storage to a more labile protein-dependent state. The other is an extinction process in which presentation of the CS alone degrades the association between CS and US. To address the mechanistic relationship between reconsolidation and extinction, we have used an invertebrate model of contextual memory, which involves an association between the learning context and a visual danger stimulus. Here, we show that re-exposure duration to the learning context acts as a switch guiding the memory course toward reconsolidation or extinction, each depending on protein synthesis. Manipulation of this variable allows findings of impaired extinction to be discriminated from those of disrupted reconsolidation.
ISSN:0896-6273
1097-4199
DOI:10.1016/S0896-6273(03)00352-0