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A shared neural ensemble links distinct contextual memories encoded close in time.

Nature | 2016

Recent studies suggest that a shared neural ensemble may link distinct memories encoded close in time. According to the memory allocation hypothesis, learning triggers a temporary increase in neuronal excitability that biases the representation of a subsequent memory to the neuronal ensemble encoding the first memory, such that recall of one memory increases the likelihood of recalling the other memory. Here we show in mice that the overlap between the hippocampal CA1 ensembles activated by two distinct contexts acquired within a day is higher than when they are separated by a week. Several findings indicate that this overlap of neuronal ensembles links two contextual memories. First, fear paired with one context is transferred to a neutral context when the two contexts are acquired within a day but not across a week. Second, the first memory strengthens the second memory within a day but not across a week. Older mice, known to have lower CA1 excitability, do not show the overlap between ensembles, the transfer of fear between contexts, or the strengthening of the second memory. Finally, in aged mice, increasing cellular excitability and activating a common ensemble of CA1 neurons during two distinct context exposures rescued the deficit in linking memories. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that contextual memories encoded close in time are linked by directing storage into overlapping ensembles. Alteration of these processes by ageing could affect the temporal structure of memories, thus impairing efficient recall of related information.

Pubmed ID: 27251287 RIS Download

Research resources used in this publication

None found

Antibodies used in this publication

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Associated grants

  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: F32 MH97413
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: T32 NS710133
  • Agency: NIA NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R37 AG013622
  • Agency: NIDA NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 DA035657
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: U01 NS094286
  • Agency: NIA NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 AG013622
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: U54 HD087101
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: T32 NS048004
  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 MH101198
  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 MH057368
  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 MH084315
  • Agency: NIAID NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P30 AI028697
  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: T32 MH15795
  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: T32 MH015795
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: 1U54 HD087101
  • Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
    Id: F32 MH097413
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: U01 NS094286-01
  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: T32 NS058280

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