Dynamics of dendritic spines in the mouse auditory cortex during memory formation and memory recall.

ABSTRACT: Long-lasting changes in synaptic connections induced by relevant experiences are believed to represent the physical correlate of memories. Here, we combined chronic in vivo two-photon imaging of dendritic spines with auditory-cued classical conditioning to test if the formation of a fear memory is associated with structural changes of synapses in the mouse auditory cortex. We find that paired conditioning and unpaired conditioning induce a transient increase in spine formation or spine elimination, respectively. A fraction of spines formed during paired conditioning persists and leaves a long-lasting trace in the network. Memory recall triggered by the reexposure of mice to the sound cue did not lead to changes in spine dynamics. Our findings provide a synaptic mechanism for plasticity in

SUBMITTER: Moczulska KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3831433 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature