Our long-term objective is to understand the molecular and anatomical basis of cortical plasticity. Closelyallied to this aim is to understand whether remote memory is based on cortical plasticity processes and morespecifically whether remote memory depends on structurally based cortical plasticity. To these ends we willtest two main hypotheses: that Animals showing remote but not short-term memory deficits will show experience-dependent cortical plasticity deficits; Remote memory deficits will be associated with specific deficits in experience-dependent dendritic and spine plasticity.By testing these hypotheses on mutants with deficits in both remote memory and cortical plasticity we willsimultaneously begin to reveal the molecular basis of structural cortical plasticity.To test these hypotheseswe plan to study four main properties of barrel cortex in animals generated by the remote memory screen:(1) the ability of barrel cortex to undergo experience-dependent plasticity (EDP), (2) normal anatomical andreceptive field development of the cortex, (3) spine and bouton stability/turnover in whisker deprived andundeprived animals, (4) excitatory synaptic transmission and the ability to undergo spike-timing dependentplasticity (STOP).By identifying the mechanisms involved in remote memory and cortical plasticity, we may acheive severalobjectives: the capactiy for modification could be extended in cases of impaired development; insight couldbe gained into memory and learning deficits in adults; new approaches could be envisioned for restoringcortical function after brain damage. These objectives are therefore directly related to the agency's missionto improve public health because they are aimed at understanding processes that go wrong in diseaseconditions such as Alzheimer's and restoring function in trauma conditions such as stroke.
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