Selective engagement of plasticity mechanisms for motor memory storage.

Full Abstract

The number and diversity of plasticity mechanisms in the brain raises a central question: does a neural circuit store all memories by stereotyped application of the available plasticity mechanisms, or can subsets of these mechanisms be selectively engaged for specific memories? The uniform architecture of the cerebellum has inspired the idea that plasticity mechanisms like cerebellar long-term depression (LTD) contribute universally to memory storage. To test this idea, we investigated a set of closely related, cerebellum-dependent motor memories. In mutant mice lacking Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV), the maintenance of cerebellar LTD is abolished. Although memory for an increase in the gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) induced with high-frequency stimuli was impaired in these mice, memories for decreases in VOR gain and increases in gain induced with low-frequency stimuli were intact. Thus, a particular plasticity mechanism need not support all cerebellum-dependent memories, but can be engaged selectively according to the parameters of training.

Author information

Author/s: Boyden, Edward S (ES); Katoh, Akira (A); Pyle, Jason L (JL); Chatila, Talal A (TA); Tsien, Richard W (RW); Raymond, Jennifer L (JL);

Affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA.

Grants: F31 DC07006 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; R01 (Agency:PHS HHS) ; R01 DC04154 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuron (Neuron), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 51 (issue 6) : pp 823-34

Dates: Created 2006/09/19; Completed 2006/11/07; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16982426, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Neuron. 2006 Sep 21;51(6):680-2. (PMID: 16982413)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Learning - physiology
Long-Term Synaptic Depression - physiology
Memory - physiology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout
Models, Neurological
Neuronal Plasticity - genetics; physiology
Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
Purkinje Cells - cytology; enzymology; metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 (EC 2.7.11.17) ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases (EC 2.7.11.17) ; Camk4 protein, mouse (EC 2.7.11.17)

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