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

在记忆形成过程中，即刻早期基因Arc在少量高活性神经元中表达。一旦表达，它就参与了一组特定神经元的异突触长期抑制。因此，它被认为有助于记忆巩固，但这一过程背后的机制并不是很清楚。在这里，我们使用新的方法来跟踪Arc表达神经元在学习过程中的活动。我们还使用了一种新的小鼠模型来测试学习过程中局部皮质弧基因敲除的效果。我们发现，在联想学习过程中，Arc的表达和神经元的活动表现出双向和调制的关系，这反过来又影响记忆编码。

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.