Neurons Are Recruited to a Memory Trace Based on Relative Neuronal Excitability Immediately before Training - ScienceDirect

• Increasing excitability in a small portion of neurons enhances memory formation • Neurons compete against one another for allocation to a memory trace • Neurons with high excitability are selectively recruited to a fear memory trace • Artificial activation of these neurons alone serves as a sufficient retrieval cue Increasing excitability in a small portion of neurons enhances memory formation Neurons compete against one another for allocation to a memory trace Neurons with high excitability are selectively recruited to a fear memory trace Artificial activation of these neurons alone serves as a sufficient retrieval cue Memories are thought to be sparsely encoded in neuronal networks, but little is known about why a given neuron is recruited or allocated to a particular memory trace. Previous research shows that in the lateral amygdala (LA), neurons with increased CREB are selectively recruited to a fear memory trace. CREB is a ubiquitous transcription factor implicated in man

• Increasing excitability in a small portion of neurons enhances memory formation • Neurons compete against one another for allocation to a memory trace • Neurons with high excitability are selectively recruited to a fear memory trace • Artificial activation of these neurons alone serves as a sufficient retrieval cue Increasing excitability in a small portion of neurons enhances memory formation Neurons compete against one another for allocation to a memory trace Neurons with high excitability are selectively recruited to a fear memory trace Artificial activation of these neurons alone serves