Elucidating the role of Arc in determining cell ensemble dynamics underlying associative learning

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The immediate early gene Arc has previously been shown to be expressed in a small number of highly activated neurons during memory formation. Once expressed, it is involved in mediating heterosynaptic long-term depression in a select group of neurons. As such, it is thought to contribute to memory consolidation, yet the mechanisms underlying this process are not well known. Here, we used novel methods to track the activity of Arc expressing neurons across learning. We also used a novel mouse model to test the effect of localized cortical Arc knockout during learning. We find that Arc expression and neuronal activity show a bidirectional and modulatory relationship during associative learning which in turn affects memory encoding.