The overall long-term objective of this research program is to understand the neurobiological systems that mediate the influence of emotional arousal on long-term memory.
The specific aims of the experiments are to determine: 1) whether noradrenergic activation of the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain region known to be activated by emotional arousal, is sufficient to enhance object- and context-recognition memory under training conditions that induce low levels of emotional arousal, 2) the interaction of the BLA with other brain regions, including the hippocampus and different cortical regions, in modulating the consolidation of object- and context-recognition memory, and 3) the influence of BLA activation on the consolidation of emotionally linked specific neuronal plasticity in the auditory cortex. The experiments will investigate the effects of posttraining intra-BLA infusions of norepinephrine or the 2-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol on 24 hr retention of object- and context-recognition memory using training conditions that produce different levels of emotional arousal. Infusions of the muscarinic cholinergic agonist oxotremorine will be administered posttraining into the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, insular cortex or rostral anterior cingulate cortex to investigate the differential effects of such cholinergic activation in enhancing memory for different types of information. Experiments will determine whether the effect, on memory, of activation of these other brain regions requires concurrent noradrenergic activation of the BLA. Electrical physiological studies of unit activity in the auditory cortex will provide novel information on BLA modulation of cortical plasticity, specifically of frequency tuning, sensitivity, and selectivity of auditory information induced by classical conditioning, thus determining the functional consequences of BLA influences on cortical functioning.
These findings will significantly increase our understanding of the neurobiological processes that modulate the formation of lasting memories of emotionally significant experiences. The findings will thus be highly relevant for efforts to understand and develop effective treatments for attenuating or preventing emotionally induced disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, that have strong emotional memories as a core component.
| Ferry, Barbara; Parrot, Sandrine; Marien, Marc et al. (2015) Noradrenergic influences in the basolateral amygdala on inhibitory avoidance memory are mediated by an action on ?2-adrenoceptors. Psychoneuroendocrinology 51:68-79 |
| McGaugh, James L (2015) Consolidating memories. Annu Rev Psychol 66:1-24 |
| Chavez, Candice M; McGaugh, James L; Weinberger, Norman M (2013) Activation of the basolateral amygdala induces long-term enhancement of specific memory representations in the cerebral cortex. Neurobiol Learn Mem 101:8-18 |
| Patihis, Lawrence; Frenda, Steven J; LePort, Aurora K R et al. (2013) False memories in highly superior autobiographical memory individuals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:20947-52 |
| McGaugh, James L (2013) Making lasting memories: remembering the significant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110 Suppl 2:10402-7 |
| LePort, Aurora K R; Mattfeld, Aaron T; Dickinson-Anson, Heather et al. (2012) Behavioral and neuroanatomical investigation of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). Neurobiol Learn Mem 98:78-92 |
| McIntyre, Christa K; McGaugh, James L; Williams, Cedric L (2012) Interacting brain systems modulate memory consolidation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 36:1750-62 |
| Roozendaal, Benno; McGaugh, James L (2011) Memory modulation. Behav Neurosci 125:797-824 |
| McReynolds, Jayme R; Donowho, Kyle; Abdi, Amin et al. (2010) Memory-enhancing corticosterone treatment increases amygdala norepinephrine and Arc protein expression in hippocampal synaptic fractions. Neurobiol Learn Mem 93:312-21 |
| Barsegyan, Areg; Mackenzie, Scott M; Kurose, Brian D et al. (2010) Glucocorticoids in the prefrontal cortex enhance memory consolidation and impair working memory by a common neural mechanism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:16655-60 |
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