Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: SK3

Title: Dopamine controls persistence of long-term memory storage.

Authors: Janine I Rossato, Lia R M Bevilaqua, Ivan Izquierdo, Jorge H Medina, Martín Cammarota

Journal, date & volume: Science, 2009 Aug 21 , 325, 1017-20

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19696353

Abstract
The paradigmatic feature of long-term memory (LTM) is its persistence. However, little is known about the mechanisms that make some LTMs last longer than others. In rats, a long-lasting fear LTM vanished rapidly when the D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 was injected into the dorsal hippocampus 12 hours, but not immediately or 9 hours, after the fearful experience. Conversely, intrahippocampal application of the D1 agonist SK38393 at the same critical post-training time converted a rapidly decaying fear LTM into a persistent one. This effect was mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor and regulated by the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Thus, the persistence of LTM depends on activation of VTA/hippocampus dopaminergic connections and can be specifically modulated by manipulating this system at definite post-learning time points.