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Molecular mechanisms of memory in imprinting.


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Authors

Solomonia, Revaz O 
McCabe, Brian J 

Abstract

Converging evidence implicates the intermediate and medial mesopallium (IMM) of the domestic chick forebrain in memory for a visual imprinting stimulus. During and after imprinting training, neuronal responsiveness in the IMM to the familiar stimulus exhibits a distinct temporal profile, suggesting several memory phases. We discuss the temporal progression of learning-related biochemical changes in the IMM, relative to the start of this electrophysiological profile. c-fos gene expression increases <15 min after training onset, followed by a learning-related increase in Fos expression, in neurons immunopositive for GABA, taurine and parvalbumin (not calbindin). Approximately simultaneously or shortly after, there are increases in phosphorylation level of glutamate (AMPA) receptor subunits and in releasable neurotransmitter pools of GABA and taurine. Later, the mean area of spine synapse post-synaptic densities, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor number and phosphorylation level of further synaptic proteins are elevated. After ∼ 15 h, learning-related changes in amounts of several synaptic proteins are observed. The results indicate progression from transient/labile to trophic synaptic modification, culminating in stable recognition memory.

Description

Keywords

Behavioural imprinting, IMM, Learning, Memory, Animals, Chickens, Imprinting, Psychological, Memory, Mice, Neurons, Prosencephalon, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos, Receptors, AMPA, Signal Transduction, Synapses, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Journal Title

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0149-7634
1873-7528

Volume Title

50

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/H018948/1)
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the BBSRC, Isaac Newton Trust, Royal Society, S. Rustaveli National Science Foundation (Project 01/31) and Wellcome Trust.