Sungmo Park

Abstract Traumatic events produce enduring memories that may be attenuated through extinction learning. Previous work has identified neuronal mechanisms underlying extinction learning that involve the remodeling or inhibition of neuronal ensembles (or engrams) that support the original fear memory. Here we identify a role for microglia in extinction learning in mice.

Keywords memory engram silent engram retrievability CA1 dorsal hippocampus AMPAR trafficking Get full text access Log in, subscribe or purchase for full access. References 1. Dudai, Y. Neurobiology. The shaky trace Nature. 2000; 406:686-687 2. Schacter, D.L. Constructive memory: past and future Dialogues Clin. Neurosci. 2012; 14:7-18 3. Josselyn, S.A. ∙ Köhler, S. ∙ Frankland, P.W. Finding the engram Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2015; 16:521-534 4. Tonegawa, S. ∙ Pignatelli, M. ∙ Roy, D.S. ...

Engrams are the changes in brain tissue that store single memories. Neuroscientists can localize and manipulate them, but until now, little was known about how multiple engrams interact to influence memories. Rashid et al. examined how neural assemblies in an area called the lateral amygdala interact. If two frightening events occurred within 6 hours, the same set of neurons was used to express fear memories for both events.