Encoding long-term memories in a neural network – ENIGMEM

People tend to remember only relevant aspects of life events. Notably, fear experiences, are preserved over time but their spatial details are lost. Where does this contextual information go? Memory consolidation is a gradual process that creates a strongly wired network of brain regions that allows for the later retrieval of memories. Here, we hypothesize that this consolidated network interferes and inhibits other circuits, including the spatial representation system to allow a faster and more accurate recall of consolidated fear memories. We will (1) identify key regions of the memory network and test whether they regulate spatial representation circuits and (2) test whether the neurons encoding the spatial information during the traumatic event become silent during remote memory recall. Altogether, this project will significantly further our understanding of how networks are reconfigured during the consolidation of fear memories.