Comprehensive protein synthesis inhibition impairs natural and artificial memory recall

Protein synthesis is critical for long-lasting memory formation and synaptic plasticity. However, whether protein synthesis is required for artificially evoked memory retrieval remains debated. To address this, we used a translation-inhibitor cocktail (CKT; anisomycin and cycloheximide) to achieve a more comprehensive blockade of protein synthesis compared to more commonly used anisomycin alone (ANI). When administered immediately after memory acquisition, ANI impaired natural recall while still showing preserved artificial recall. In contrast, CKT treatment showed significant impairment in both natural and artificial recall. Together, these results provide additional evidence that de novo protein synthesis is required for both natural and artificial memory recall.