Noradrenaline Effects on the Systems Consolidation of Memory
Noradrenaline Effects on the Systems Consolidation of Memory
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Date
2022-08-05
Language
en
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Abstract
The stress hormones noradrenaline and corticosterone are assumed to have opposite
effects on memory generalization versus accuracy. While the effect of corticosterone
on promoting memory generalisation resembles to what normally occurs over
the course of systems consolidation of memory, it remains unknown how noradrenaline
establishes its effect on promoting memory accuracy. In this project, we investigated
whether increased noradrenaline levels during memory consolidation affect the systems
consolidation process at the level of engram neurons and thereby enhance the
accuracy of memories during remote retention testing. We used a transgenic mouse
model and developed a new behavioural task to assess memory accuracy in mice.
This mouse model allowed us to label active neurons during training in vivo and immunostaining
of brain material acquired right after testing labeled neurons activated
at the retention test. Here we show that post-training administration of yohimbine (a
noradrenergic stimulant) enhanced memory accuracy during testing 14 days later and
this was associated with enhanced hippocampal activity and diminished correlated activity
of the prefrontal cortex and CA3 at the time of testing. These findings provide
further insight into the mechanism by which
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen