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Continuous memory stabilization based on different adaptive processes in neural circuits

Subject Area Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
Term from 2019 to 2022
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 419866478
 
Final Report Year 2024

Final Report Abstract

Understanding the interplay of the physiological principles determining the lifetime of a memory from its first encoding to its years-long maintenance is one of the keys for further advancements in neuroscience and related scientific fields as medicine or psychology. During this project we have developed mathematical models that provide a mechanistic description of different, interlocked physiological processes shaping the dynamics of memory representations in neuronal circuits. Our results indicate that, first, a well-coordinated cascade of intracellular molecular processes including calcium influx, clustering of ion channels, and protein synthesis yields the formation of memories that can be maintained for several hours. This cascade is followed by the interplay between active dendrites and sleep-dependent memory replay that can prolong the memory lifetime for a few days. The increased lifetime provides sufficient time such that new synapses can be formed during several, repeated wakesleep cycles. These newly formed synapses can further increase the lifetime up to weeks and make a memory more resistant against perturbations such as in the wake-sleep cycle. Taken together, this project provides a coherent, physiological model of the lifetime of a memory that can serve as starting point for ample new studies in the fields of learning and memory.

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