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Pierson Dissertation Final.pdf (2.31 MB)

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The Role of Prediction Error in the Reconsolidation of Contextual Fear Memory

Pierson, Jamie L
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4136-8106
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1564058234405263

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Psychology.
The neurobiological mechanisms of fear have been studied for decades. It had previously been accepted that once a memory had been consolidated into long term memory, it was stable. More recently it has been shown that this consolidated memory can reenter a labile state and be manipulated. The processes by which a memory is made labile and reconsolidated are not fully understood. Growing evidence suggests that prediction errors play a critical role in determining whether memory reconsolidation processes are initiated following memory reactivation. Much of this work has been conducted using appetitive conditioning paradigms. The goal of this work is to understand the role of prediction errors in the reconsolidation of contextual fear memories, as well as the potential brain regions contributing to this prediction error signaling. Using a unique training paradigm, we examine the role of prediction error by first establishing distinct expectancies of footshock and then differentially inducing expectancy violations through the omission of footshock during memory reactivation. We locally administer the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, into the basolateral amygdala in order to block memory reconsolidation. Additionally, we determine that the required protein synthesis occurs within six hours of memory reactivation, and that the reactivation of the memory is necessary for context fear memory reconsolidation to occur. We also measured the protein products of the immediate early genes, cFos and zif268, following memory reactivation to determine potential brain regions involved in signaling the prediction error. Using these data, and the existing literature, we determined that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was a potential target for direct manipulation to block the prediction error signal. Unfortunately, we were unable to fully answer this question and posit that there are potential concerns with pre-reactivation manipulations that interfere with our ability to assess memory reconsolidation. Future studies should address the role of the OFC (as well as other brain regions identified in this dissertation) in the prediction error signaling that is necessary for contextual fear memory reconsolidation. These studies remain important in determining potential treatments for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions involving intrusive, debilitating memories, such as those that underlie posttraumatic stress disorder, phobias, and drug addiction.
Jennifer Quinn (Advisor)
107 p.
Neurosciences; Psychology
Reconsolidation; Fear; Contextual Fear; Context, Rat; Orbitofronal Cortex; Amygdala; Posterior parietal cortx

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pierson, J. L. (2019). The Role of Prediction Error in the Reconsolidation of Contextual Fear Memory [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1564058234405263

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pierson, Jamie. The Role of Prediction Error in the Reconsolidation of Contextual Fear Memory. 2019. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1564058234405263.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pierson, Jamie. "The Role of Prediction Error in the Reconsolidation of Contextual Fear Memory." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1564058234405263

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1564058234405263
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© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.