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Long-term synaptic changes induced in the cerebellar cortex by fear conditioning.
Benedetto Sacchetti1, Bibiana Scelfo, Filippo Tempia
1Rita Levi-Montalcini Center for Brain Repair, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
Neuron
|June 23, 2004
Summary
The cerebellum
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Learning and Memory
- Synaptic Plasticity
Background:
- The cerebellum's role in fear memory consolidation is recognized.
- Mechanisms of cerebellar contribution to emotional behavior remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate cerebellar synaptic plasticity following fear conditioning.
- Elucidate the role of specific cerebellar synapses in learned fear.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings in cerebellar slices post-fear conditioning.
- Analysis of parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses and climbing fiber synapses.
- Assessment of fear conditioning in genetically modified mice (hotfoot).
Main Results:
- Long-lasting potentiation observed at parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses (vermal lobules V-VI) 10 min and 24 hr after fear conditioning.
- Potentiation is postsynaptic, mediated by increased AMPA receptor response.
- Hotfoot mice show deficits in cued, but not contextual, fear conditioning.
Conclusions:
- The parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse is crucial for learned fear.
- Long-term potentiation of this synapse may underlie the neural basis of fear memory.