Nabavi, S., Fox, R., Proulx, C. D., Lin, J. Y., Tsien, R. Y., & Malinow, R. (2014). Engineering
a memory with LTD and LTP. Nature, 511(7509), 348. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13294
AAV optogenetic labeling of a random subset of MGN and ACx. Optical LTP and
LTD.
Rat Amygdala, MGNACx
This straightforward experiment uses an AAV to optogenetically label a random
subset of MGN/ACx neurons and shows that optical stimulation of these can act as a CS similar
to that seen in normal auditory fear conditioning. By tagging the CS neurons in this way, they
can optically stimulate them to induce either LTP or LTD at their synapses in the lateral
amygdala (LA), giving them the ability to erase and then reinstate a memory. Also: Using
optogenetically-driven slice electrophysiology (measuring NMDA/AMPA currents), they verify
that the protocol induces LTP in lateral amygdala (LA).
“[W]e have engineered inactivation and reactivation of a memory using LTD and LTP,
supporting a causal link between these synaptic processes and memory.”