Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The balance between stability and plasticity in the brain determines our ability to learn. A key molecular regulator of this balance includes perineuronal nets. Perineuronal nets are specialized extracellular matrix structures surrounding neurons, and have a presumed function in promoting stability within neural circuits. We investigated the effects of disrupting perineuronal nets, thereby enhancing plasticity, on learning and memory in mice. We found that perineuronal net disruption in the hippocampal CA1 region is associated with faster water maze reversal learning, and increased contextual fear generalization. Moreover, the population of active neurons is larger at retrieval of a contextual fear memory. These results demonstrate that perineuronal nets are important for learning and memory, and that shifts in perineuronal nets is associated with altered circuit level activity.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Moushumi Nath
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3005287781