Lay Abstract PI: Fanselow, Michael S. Proposal Number: IBN-9723295 When information is first learned, the brain stores this new memory in a form that is very susceptible to disruption. Over time, one particular part of the brain, the hippocampus, acts to consolidate these memories into a more indelible form. If the hippocampus is damaged or disrupted before consolidation of a particular experience is complete, there is an amnesia for that experience. While it is known that this memory consolidation goes on for a very long time, very little is known about what causes consolidation to occur or what factors control the duration of this process. This project provides crucial information about how memory consolidation is accomplished. There are two lines of investigation. The first examines several environmental manipulations that prevent this amnesia or shorten or extend the period of consolidation. These experiments provide information on the mental processes that cause the brain to consolidate its experiences. The second line of research determines how the various parts of the hippocampus are involved in the consolidation process. Together the two parts of this project provide information about how the brain operates on our experiences to create permanent memories.
