| Program#/Poster#: |
479.20/FF121 |
| Title: |
Reconsolidation of implicitly reactivated
fear memories in the rat amygdala |
| Location: |
South Hall A |
| Presentation Time: |
Monday, Oct 19, 2009, 4:00 PM - 5:00
PM |
| Authors: |
*J. DEBIEC1,2, V. DOYERE1,3,
L. DIAZ-MATAIX1, D. E. A. BUSH1, J. E. LEDOUX1,4;
1Ctr. for Neural Sci., 2Dept. of Psychiatry, New York Univ., New York, NY;
3N.a.m.c, c.n.r.s.-u.m.r8620, Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay, France; 4Emotional
Brain Inst., Nathan S. Kline Inst. for Psychiatric Res., Orangeburg, NY
|
| Abstract: |
Existing data demonstrate a key role
of the amygdala in acquisition, consolidation and maintenance of fear learning.
Reactivation of fear memories by presenting a learning cue (conditioned
stimulus, CS) renders them labile and initiates protein synthesis dependent
reconsolidation processes in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA). Using
a second-order fear conditioning task, we have recently demonstrated that
reactivation of a single memory does not render associated memories labile
(Debiec et al, 2006). However, associations between stimuli may have a different
status when they are bound through within compound associations. Here we
use a compound fear conditioning protocol with a compound tone-light CS
(L+T Comp) and a footshock US in order to ask whether presenting a part
of the compound CS would render the other part of the L+T Comp labile. We
first show that exposure to the light 24 hours after conditioning, followed
by intra-LA infusions of protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin (with artificial
cerebro-spinal fluid, ACSF used as a vehicle control) impairs fear responding
(freezing) to the L+T Comp on the following day. In another group of rats,
we show that after reactivation of the memory by presenting the light, intra-LA
infusion of anisomycin produces deficits in freezing responding to the tone,
the other part of the compound CS. This pattern of findings suggests that
an exposure to the part of the compound renders the other part of the compound
labile and protein synthesis dependent. Thus, concurrent presentation of
distinct stimuli during a compound fear conditioning procedure leads to
a formation of associations such that a reactivation of one stimulus initiates
reconsolidation of another part of the compound. Therefore, within compound
associations may provide each element different status with regard to its
reconsolidation capability. |
| Support: |
R37 MH038774 to J.E.L. |
|
P50 MH058911 to J.E.L. |
|
R01 MH046516 to J.E.L. |
|
CNRS-PICS to V.D. & J.E.L. |
|
CNRS-UPS-NYU EmoTime to V.D. & J.E.L.
|