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Shaping Memories via Stress: A Synaptic Engram Perspective
Niek Brosens1, Sylvie L Lesuis2, Priyanka Rao-Ruiz3
1Brain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences-Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Biological Psychiatry
|November 17, 2023
Summary
Acute stress impacts brain cell networks (engram cells) by altering synapse function, influencing memory strength and precision. Understanding these stress-induced memory modulations is crucial for adaptive behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Stress significantly impacts memory systems, influencing behavior adaptively or maladaptively.
- Acute stress triggers (nor)adrenaline and glucocorticoid release, affecting synaptic plasticity crucial for learning and memory.
- Memories are encoded by specific neuron networks called engram cell ensembles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and integrate current knowledge on how acute stress affects synapse function.
- To explore how these synaptic changes influence engram cell ensembles and their connectivity.
- To provide a framework for understanding stress-induced memory modulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of recent findings.
- Integration of cellular and network-level data on stress and memory.
- Development of a mechanistic framework for synaptic engrams under stress.
Main Results:
- Acute stress modifies synapse function and plasticity.
- These synaptic changes are hypothesized to alter engram cell ensemble dynamics.
- Stress-induced alterations shape both memory strength and precision.
Conclusions:
- Stress profoundly impacts memory engrams at synaptic and network levels.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of stress-induced memory modulation.
- Understanding these mechanisms is key to addressing maladaptive behavioral outcomes.
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