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A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
Published on: August 18, 2014
Abrupt emergence of long-lasting memory in the pre-weanling rat
Solène Languille1, Paulette Richer, Bernard Hars
1Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 8620, Orsay F-91405, France. solene.languille@u-psud.fr
Insights
Long-lasting memory in rat pups emerges abruptly around 15 days of age, not progressively. Memory acquired before 12 days lasts only a week, while memory after 15 days persists over a year.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Understanding the developmental trajectory of memory formation is crucial for neuroscience.
- Previous research has not precisely defined the emergence of long-term memory during early development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if long-lasting memory emerges progressively or abruptly during ontogenesis in rat pups.
- To identify the specific age window for the sudden emergence of remote memory.
Main Methods:
- Rat pups were conditioned at various ages (3, 10, 12, 15, 18 days old).
- Memory retention was tested at intervals ranging from 3 days to 1 year.
- Conditioned aversion was used as the memory paradigm.
Main Results:
- Memory acquired before 12 days of age lasted only one week.
- Memory acquired after 15 days of age persisted for over one year.
- A distinct 3-day temporal window was identified for the sudden emergence of remote memory.
Conclusions:
- Long-lasting memory in rat pups emerges abruptly, not progressively.
- The critical period for the sudden onset of remote memory is around 15 days of age.
- This finding provides a specific temporal target for investigating the mechanisms of memory maintenance.
Abstract:
During the course of ontogenesis does long-lasting memory emerge progressively or abruptly, and when? To examine this question, rat pups were conditioned at different ages (3-, 10-, 12-, 15- or 18-day-old) and tested at different retention intervals: from 3 days to 1 year. Conditioned aversion memory established before 12-day-old lasts for only 1 week, but when acquired after 15 days, memory survives for more than 1 year. This defines a short temporal window of 3 days for sudden emergence of a remote memory. Our result offers a precise temporal target to explore the mechanisms involved in long maintenance of memory.
