Rescue of long-term memory after reconsolidation blockade

Nat Commun. 2015 Aug 4:6:7897. doi: 10.1038/ncomms8897.

Abstract

Memory reconsolidation is considered to be the process whereby stored memories become labile on recall, allowing updating. Blocking the restabilization of a memory during reconsolidation is held to result in a permanent amnesia. The targeted knockdown of either Zif268 or Arc levels in the brain, and inhibition of protein synthesis, after a brief recall results in a non-recoverable retrograde amnesia, known as reconsolidation blockade. These experimental manipulations are seen as key proof for the existence of reconsolidation. However, here we demonstrate that despite disrupting the molecular correlates of reconsolidation in the hippocampus, rodents are still able to recover contextual memories. Our results challenge the view that reconsolidation is a separate memory process and instead suggest that the molecular events activated initially at recall act to constrain premature extinction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amnesia, Retrograde / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Conditioning, Psychological
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics*
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1 / genetics*
  • Fear
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology
  • Memory Consolidation / physiology*
  • Memory, Long-Term / physiology*
  • Mental Recall
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1
  • Egr1 protein, rat
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein