Reactivating hippocampal-mediated memories during reconsolidation to disrupt fear.

ABSTRACT: Memories are stored in the brain as cellular ensembles activated during learning and reactivated during retrieval. Using the Tet-tag system in mice, we label dorsal dentate gyrus neurons activated by positive, neutral or negative experiences with channelrhodopsin-2. Following fear-conditioning, these cells are artificially reactivated during fear memory recall. Optical stimulation of a competing positive memory is sufficient to update the memory during reconsolidation, thereby reducing conditioned fear acutely and enduringly. Moreover, mice demonstrate operant responding for reactivation of a positive memory, confirming its rewarding properties. These results show that interference from a rewarding experience can counteract negative affective states. While memory-updating, induced by memor

SUBMITTER: Grella SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9468169 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature