Evidence that a defined population of neurons in lateral amygdala is directly involved in auditory fear learning and memory.

Evidence that a defined population of neurons in lateral amygdala is directly involved in auditory fear learning and memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2019 Dec 13;:107139 Authors: Butler CW, Wilson YM, Mills SA, Gunnersen JM, Murphy M Abstract Memory is thought to be encoded within networks of neurons within the brain, but the identity of the neurons involved and circuits they form have not been described for any memory. Previously, we used fos-tau-lacZ (FTL) transgenic mice to identify discrete populations of neurons in different regions of the brain which were specifically activated following fear conditioning. This suggested that these populations of neurons form nodes in a network that encodes fear memory. In particular, one population of learning activated neurons was found within a discrete region of the lateral amygdala (LA), a key nucleus required for fear conditioning. In order to provide evidence that this population is directly involved in fear conditioning, we have analysed the expression of a key molecular requirement for fear conditioning in LA, phosphorylated Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase 1 and 2 (pERK1/2). The only neurons in LA that specifically expressed pERK1/2 following auditory fear conditioning were in the ventrolateral nucleus of the LA (LAvl), in the same discrete region where we found learning specific FTL+ neurons. Double labelling experiments in FTL mice showed that a substantial proportion of the learni...
Source: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Neurobiol Learn Mem Source Type: research