Work

Noradrenergic activation of the basolateral amygdala maintains hippocampus-dependent accuracy of remote memory

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Significance Emotional arousal creates lasting and vivid memories. According to the systems consolidation theory, the hippocampus has a time-limited role in memory, and retrieval of remote memories mainly relies on neocortical networks. Here we show that this systems consolidation and associated change in memory specificity constitute a dynamically regulated process that can be modified by emotional arousal status. Norepinephrine administration into the basolateral amygdala after an episodic-like training experience maintained accuracy and hippocampus dependency of remote memory. This altered systems consolidation was paralleled by time-regulated epigenetically driven transcriptional changes of memory-related genes in the hippocampus and neocortex.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1710819114