Existing knowledge determines how new experiences are encoded in the brain.

这个项目的目的是确定现有的知识是如何塑造新的恐惧记忆在大脑中的编码和存储方式的。它试图通过使用动物模型来实现这一目标，即大鼠的巴甫洛夫恐惧条件反射。当危险经历与现有知识一致或不一致时形成的恐惧记忆，它在提供第一个系统评估方面具有重要意义。预期的结果包括有关现有知识、恐惧记忆及其神经基质之间联系的新信息。我们需要这些信息来发展一个全面的理论，来解释恐惧记忆形成的条件是如何决定它们的内容和大脑中的连接的。

The aim of this project is to identify how existing knowledge shapes the way that new fear memories are encoded and stored in the brain. It seeks to achieve this aim through the use of an animal model, Pavlovian fear conditioning in rats. It is significant in providing the first systematic assessment of fear memories that form when dangerous experiences are consistent versus inconsistent with existing knowledge. The expected outcomes include new information regarding the links between existing knowledge, fear memories and their neural substrates. This information is needed for the development of a comprehensive theory that explains how the conditions under which fear memories form determines their content and wiring in the brain.