Open AccessRetrograde enhancement of episodic learning by a postlearning stimulus
Author(s) -
Julian Quintanilla,
Brittney M. Cox,
Christine Gall,
Stephen V. Mahler,
Gary Lynch
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
learning and memory
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1549-5485
pISSN - 1072-0502
DOI - 10.1101/lm.052191.120
Subject(s) - odor , salience (neuroscience) , psychology , episodic memory , stimulus (psychology) , cognitive psychology , salient , neuroscience , cognition , artificial intelligence , computer science
Evidence suggests encoding of recent episodic experiences may be enhanced by a subsequent salient event. We tested this hypothesis by giving rats a 3-min unsupervised experience with four odors and measuring retention after different delays. Animals recognized that a novel element had been introduced to the odor set at 24 but not 48 h. However, when odor sampling was followed within 5 min by salient light flashes or bedding odor, the memory lasted a full 2 d. These results describe a retroactive influence of salience to promote storage of episodic information and introduce a unique model for studying underlying plasticity mechanisms.