Synaptic Mechanisms for Contextual Memory Formation

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Learning and memory defines how animals interact with their environment. This process relies on experience-driven changes in synaptic connections, a phenomenon known as synaptic plasticity; disruption of this process is believed to underlie several cognitive and psychiatric disorders. Although synaptic plasticity is critical for learning and memory, the mechanisms by which memory is formed and stored in neural circuits remains poorly understood. The proposed studies address this knowledge gap by focusing on synaptic mechanisms by which contextual memory is encoded in CA3 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, a brain region with a central role in learning and memory. Among the excitatory inputs converging onto CA3 pyramidal neurons, the mossy fiber (MF) input from dentate gyrus granule cells is known to be required for the encoding of contextual memory. We propose to identify molecular pathways that selectively modulate MF-CA3 synapses in the mouse hippocampus. Using genetic tools recently developed by us, we seek to identify the specific group of CA3 neurons activated by contextual learning, and pinpoint the specific learning- dependent synaptic modifications that are key to forming new memories in these neurons. The proposed research has the potential to generate conceptual breakthroughs in our molecular and cellular understanding of memory formation, and ultimately provide insights into mechanisms underlying cognitive and psychiatric impairments.