Auditory fear conditioning, a learning paradigm in which a rat can form an association between a previously neutral tone and a painful stimulus, is believed to occur via the persistent strengthening of synaptic connections, termed long-term potentiation (LTP), in the lateral amygdala (LA). Protein synthesis is necessary for both consolidation and reconsolidation of fear conditioning memory, and this may suggest a role for synapse remodeling. Auditory information enters the LA via plastic synapses from both the thalamus and cortex, but the functional and anatomical relationship between these synapses is unclear. The proposed project will begin to investigate the relative roles of these synapses in fear conditioning memory and their structural underpinnings. First, the protein synthesis-dependence of LTP consolidation and reconsolidation will be compared between the cortical and thalamic input pathways using a behaviorally relevant induction protocol. Second, serial section electron microscopy will be used to examine ultrastructural changes in LA synapses that occur during consolidation of fear conditioning and LTP, including changes in synapse size, synapse number, and local protein synthesis. Tracer injections will allow comparison of cortical and thalamic synapses under all conditions. A better understanding of the synaptic basis of the formation and maintenance of fear memories is important for the development of interventions for psychiatric disorders involving fear associations, such as phobias.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32MH083583-02
Application #
7677846
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F02A-H (20))
Program Officer
Desmond, Nancy L
Project Start
2008-09-01
Project End
2011-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-01
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$53,354
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041968306
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012
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Ostroff, Linnaea E; Manzur, Mustfa K; Cain, Christopher K et al. (2014) Synapses lacking astrocyte appear in the amygdala during consolidation of Pavlovian threat conditioning. J Comp Neurol 522:2152-63
Christianson, John P; Fernando, Anushka B P; Kazama, Andy M et al. (2012) Inhibition of fear by learned safety signals: a mini-symposium review. J Neurosci 32:14118-24
Ostroff, Linnaea E; Cain, Christopher K; Jindal, Neha et al. (2012) Stability of presynaptic vesicle pools and changes in synapse morphology in the amygdala following fear learning in adult rats. J Comp Neurol 520:295-314
Ostroff, Linnaea E; Cain, Christopher K; Bedont, Joseph et al. (2010) Fear and safety learning differentially affect synapse size and dendritic translation in the lateral amygdala. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:9418-23