Synapse formation is associated with memory storage in the cerebellum

Jeffrey A Kleim; John H Freeman; Rochelle Bruneau; Brian C Nolan; Natalie R Cooper; Alison Zook; Drew Walters

doi:10.1073/pnas.202483399

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Synapse formation is associated with memory storage in the cerebellum

Journal article

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Synapse formation is associated with memory storage in the cerebellum

Jeffrey A Kleim, John H Freeman, Rochelle Bruneau, Brian C Nolan, Natalie R Cooper, Alison Zook and Drew Walters

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.99(20), pp.13228-13231

10/01/2002

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.202483399

PMCID: PMC130615

PMID: 12235373

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Abstract

The idea that memory is encoded by means of synaptic growth is not new. However, this idea has been difficult to demonstrate in the mammalian brain because of both the complexity of mammalian behavior and the neural circuitry by which it is supported. Here we examine how eyeblink classical conditioning affects synapse number within the cerebellum; the brain region essential for long-term retention of the conditioned response. Results showed eyeblink-conditioned rats to have significantly more synapses per neuron within the cerebellar interpositus nucleus than both explicitly unpaired and untrained controls. Further analysis showed that the increase was caused by the addition of excitatory rather than inhibitory synapses. Thus, development of the conditioned eyeblink response is associated with a strengthening of inputs from precerebellar nuclei rather than from cerebellar cortex. These results demonstrate that the modifications of specific neural pathways by means of synaptogenesis contributes to formation of a specific memory within the mammalian brain.

Biological Sciences

Details

Title: Subtitle: Synapse formation is associated with memory storage in the cerebellum
Creators: Jeffrey A Kleim - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1K 3M4; and
John H Freeman - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1K 3M4; and
Rochelle Bruneau - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1K 3M4; and
Brian C Nolan - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1K 3M4; and
Natalie R Cooper - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1K 3M4; and
Alison Zook - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1K 3M4; and
Drew Walters - Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1K 3M4; and
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.99(20), pp.13228-13231
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.202483399
PMID: 12235373
PMCID: PMC130615
NLM abbreviation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN: 0027-8424
eISSN: 1091-6490
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
Language: English
Date published: 10/01/2002
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984065753102771

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