Light disrupts social memory via a retina-to-supraoptic nucleus circuit

ABSTRACT: The formation of social memory between individuals of the opposite sex is crucial for expanding mating options or establishing monogamous pair bonding. A specialized neuronal circuit that regulates social memory could enhance an individual's mating opportunities and provide a parallel pathway for computing social behaviors. While the influence of light exposure on various forms of memory, such as fear and object memory, has been studied, its modulation of social recognition memory remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that acute exposure to light impairs social recognition memory (SRM) in mice. Unlike sound and touch stimuli, light inhibits oxytocin neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) via M1 SON-projecting intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) and GABAergic neuron

SUBMITTER: Yu-Fan Huang 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_15252-EMBR_202356839 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other