Skip to Content
Merck
  • A locus coeruleus-dorsal CA1 dopaminergic circuit modulates memory linking.

A locus coeruleus-dorsal CA1 dopaminergic circuit modulates memory linking.

Neuron (2022-08-31)
Ananya Chowdhury, Alessandro Luchetti, Giselle Fernandes, Daniel Almeida Filho, George Kastellakis, Alexandra Tzilivaki, Erica M Ramirez, Mary Y Tran, Panayiota Poirazi, Alcino J Silva
ABSTRACT

Individual memories are often linked so that the recall of one triggers the recall of another. For example, contextual memories acquired close in time can be linked, and this is known to depend on a temporary increase in excitability that drives the overlap between dorsal CA1 (dCA1) hippocampal ensembles that encode the linked memories. Here, we show that locus coeruleus (LC) cells projecting to dCA1 have a key permissive role in contextual memory linking, without affecting contextual memory formation, and that this effect is mediated by dopamine. Additionally, we found that LC-to-dCA1-projecting neurons modulate the excitability of dCA1 neurons and the extent of overlap between dCA1 memory ensembles as well as the stability of coactivity patterns within these ensembles. This discovery of a neuromodulatory system that specifically affects memory linking without affecting memory formation reveals a fundamental separation between the brain mechanisms modulating these two distinct processes.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Serotonin Transporter Antibody, serum, Chemicon®
SKU
Pack Size
Availability
Price
Quantity