Reexposure to the amnestic agent alleviates cycloheximide-induced retrograde amnesia for reactivated and extinction memories.

Abstract

We investigated whether reexposure to an amnestic agent would reverse amnesia for extinction of learned fear similar to that of a reactivated memory. When cycloheximide (CHX) was administered immediately after a brief cue-induced memory reactivation (15 sec) and an extended extinction session (12 min) rats showed retrograde amnesia for both memories. CHX did not produce amnesia for a moderate extinction session (6 min). Re-administering CHX before testing reversed the amnestic effect for both memories (i.e., the memories were recovered). These results are discussed using a modified state dependent model of retrograde amnesia.

• Authors: James F Briggs, Brian P Olson
• Journal: Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) (Learn Mem) Vol. 20 Issue 5 Pg. 285-8 (Apr 17 2013) ISSN: 1549-5485 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23596315 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cycloheximide

Topics

• Amnesia, Retrograde (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Conditioning, Psychological (drug effects)
• Cycloheximide (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Extinction, Psychological (drug effects)
• Female
• Memory (drug effects)
• Rats
• Rats, Long-Evans