Exploring the interaction between memory expression and internal states through image analysis in Neohelice

JUAN FRANCISCO ROBUSCHI; FRANCISCO JAVIER MAZA; ALEJANDRO DELORENZI

San Luis, Argentina

Congreso; SAN 2023; 2023

SAN

Predicting whether aparticular stressor strengthens or disrupts a specific memory phase isintricate. Unlike theories focused on modulating memory strength, ourhypothesis posits that the behavioral expression of reactivated memories isdetermined, at least in part, by the interplay between internal states(emotions) and mnemonic traces when memories are labile. There, changes inconcurrent internal states form emotional traces that will unfold during memoryreactivation, modulating expression in evaluation sessions.In this study, within the aversive memory paradigm of Neohelice, we analyzedbehavioral changes during the acquisition and retrieval of this memory (changesin the escape response triggered by a visual danger stimulus – VDS) andvariations due to different internal states (water deprivation stress,fluoxetine). The parameter of “crab’s silhouette shift” in the training arenainduced by the VDS (obtained through ImageJ routines) significantly correlatedwith manually measured distance traveled (Kinovea software), faithfullyreflecting the escape response and the learning curve.Likewise, from position heatmaps during VDS stimulation, the one-dimensionalparameter “stationary area” was obtained. The interaction between these 2variables is considered as an adjunct parameter to jointly assess displacementalong with location. These image analysis could constitute tools for studyingbehavioral changes induced by emotional states in this aversive memoryparadigm.