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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Disrupting Reconsolidation of Fear Memory in Humans by a Noradrenergic β-Blocker
Published on: December 18, 2014
Muscarinic activity in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex is crucial for spatial and fear memory retrieval
Habiba Rashid1, Touqeer Ahmed1
1Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Background:
Hippocampus and entorhinal cortex are key players of learning and memory. Despite their established role in memory processes, the contribution of muscarinic receptor activity in these brain regions during memory retrieval remains elusive. This study was aimed to assess the role of hippocampal CA1 and medial entorhinal cortex muscarinic receptors in memory retrieval.
Method:
Mice were implanted with bilateral cannulas in the hippocampus CA1 and medial entorhinal cortex. After recovery they were trained for Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test and contextual fear conditioning. Scopolamine was infused 10 min prior to retrieval test.
Results:
Pre-test scopolamine infusion in hippocampal CA1 and medial entorhinal cortex significantly reduced overall exploration of objects (p<0.001). Similarly, pre-retrieval inactivation dorsal hippocampal CA1 and medial entorhinal cortex muscarinic activity caused significant impairment of spatial and fear memories retrieval (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
These findings showed vital role of muscarinic activity in retrieving hippocampal and entorhinal cortex dependent memories and suggest a possible target for treating retrograde amnesia.
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