Delving into the claustrum: uncovering its function in learning and memory

MEDINA, CANDELA; KRAWCZYK, MARÍA; OJEA RAMOS, SANTIAGO; BOCCIA, MARIANO

Congreso; XXXVIII Reunion anual de la SAN; 2023

The claustrum is a brain structure that remains shrouded in mystery due to the limitedunderstanding of its cellular structure, neural pathways, functionality and physiologicalaspects. Significant research has unveiled connections spanning from the claustrum tothe entire cortex as well as subcortical areas. This widespread connectivity has led tospeculations of its role in integrating information from different brain regions, possiblycontributing to processes such as attention, consciousness, learning and memory. Ourworking hypothesis posits that claustrum neural activity contributes to the formation,stabilization and updating of long-term memories in mice. Initial findings indicate thatintra-claustral administration of Lidocaine immediately after a training session ormemory recall leads to a decline in behavioral performance in an inhibitory avoidancetask. Nevertheless, this does not seem to be the case for the acquisition or retrieval ofthis type of memory. Moreover, inhibition of the claustrum’s synaptic activity appears toimpair stabilization but not the acquisition or retrieval of an unconditioned memoryformed in a hole-board task. Looking ahead, this project aims to delve into the influenceof the cholinergic system on these memory processes within the claustrum,investigating both the modulating effects of acetylcholine input and the cholinergicoutput projecting to other relevant subcortical regions.