Reconsolidation or extinction? Thinking of GABA.

CARBO TANO M; MOLINA VA; ME PEDREIRA

Huerta Grande

Congreso; XXVI Congreso Anual SAN; 2011

SAN

Reconsolidation or extinction? Thinking of GABA. Here we investigate the role of the GABAergic system over the different memory phases in an invertebrate memory model. We have found that post-training administration of muscimol disrupts, while post-weak-training administration of bicuculline facilitate the formation of fear memory. Likewise, the same effects are found if the drugs are administrated pre- or post-memory reactivation. These results suggest a role of GABA in the consolidation and reconsolidation of fear memory. The same pattern is found when the drugs are administered at the end of the extinction memory training. On the contrary, opposite effects were found when the same drugs were administrated before extinction memory training. That is, facilitative effects when administrating muscimol, and detrimental effects with bicuculline. It seems that the GABAergic system plays different roles on the acquisition and consolidation of extinction memory. We propose that an activation of the GABAergic neurotransmission is necessary for the acquisition, whereas a reduce neurotransmission is required for the consolidation of the extinction memory.