CREB Induces Structural Changes in LA Neurons making them more Advantageous for Inclusion into the Fear Memory Trace
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The current study aimed to determine the selective advantage of lateral amygdala (LA) neurons overexpressing the transcription factor CREB that enables their preferential incorporation into the fear memory trace. I hypothesized that overexpression of CREB drives the formation of dendritic spines, potentially providing these neurons with greater connectivity to sensory inputs at the time of learning. Using viral-mediated gene transfer, CREB tagged with GFP, or GFP as a control, was overexpressed in the LA of wild-type mice. Spine number and morphology were compared in homecage mice at the time when mice are normally trained in fear conditioning. Spine density was increased in neurons with CREB vector compared to neurons with GFP vector whereas spine head diameter and length was not different. Therefore, LA neurons overexpressing CREB have increased spine number at the time of learning, potentially providing these neurons with a selective advantage for incorporation into the fear memory trace.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Gemma Higgs
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3087038924