New frontiers in the study of memory mechanisms

Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria

Cristiane R.g. Furini¹  Jociane C. Myskiw¹  Fernando Benetti¹  Ivan Izquierdo¹ 

关键词: Memory;    persistence;    consolidation;    synaptic tagging;    extinction;   

DOI  :  10.1590/1516-4446-2012-1046

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

We review recent work on three major lines of memory research: a) the possible role of the protein kinase M-zeta (PKMzeta) in memory persistence; b) the processes of “synaptic tagging and capture” in memory formation; c) the modulation of extinction learning, widely used in the psychotherapy of fear memories under the name of “exposure therapy”. PKMzeta is a form of protein kinase C (PKC) that apparently remains stimulated for months after the consolidation of a given memory. Synaptic tagging is a mechanism whereby the weak activation of one synapse can tag it with a protein so other synapses in the same cell can reactivate it by producing other proteins that bind to the tag. Extinction, once mistakenly labeled as a form of forgetting, is by itself a form of learning; through it animals can learn to inhibit a response. We now know it can be modulated by neurotransmitters or by synaptic tagging, which should enable better control of its clinical use.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
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