iScience (Aug 2023)

A behavioral tagging account of kinase contribution to memory formation after spaced aversive training

  • Pablo Budriesi,
  • Ramiro Tintorelli,
  • Julieta Correa,
  • Maria Eugenia Villar,
  • Paul Marchal,
  • Martin Giurfa,
  • Haydee Viola

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 8
p. 107278

Abstract

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Summary: Long-term memory (LTM) can be induced by repeated spaced training trials. Using the weak inhibitory avoidance (wIA) task, we showed that one wIA session does not lead to a 24-h LTM, whereas two identical wIA sessions spaced by 15 min to 6 h induce a 24-h LTM. This LTM promotion depends both on hippocampal protein synthesis and the activity of several kinases. In agreement with the behavioral tagging (BT) hypothesis, our results suggest that the two training sessions induce transient learning tags and lead, via a cooperative effect, to the synthesis of plasticity-related proteins (PRPs) that become available and captured by the tag from the second session. Although ERKs1/2 are needed for PRPs synthesis and CaMKs are required for tag setting, PKA participates in both processes. We conclude that the BT mechanism accounts for the molecular constraints underlying the classic effect of spaced learning on LTM formation.

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