A study on fear memory retrieval and REM sleep in maternal separation and isolation stressed rats

Sampath, Dayalan and Sabitha, KR and Hegde, Preethi and Jayakrishnan, HR and Kutty, Bindu M and Chattarji, Sumantra and Rangarajan, Govindan and Laxmi, TR (2014) A study on fear memory retrieval and REM sleep in maternal separation and isolation stressed rats. In: BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 273 . pp. 144-154.

PDF beh_bra_res_273_144_2014.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

As rapid brain development occurs during the neonatal period, environmental manipulation during this period may have a significant impact on sleep and memory functions. Moreover, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep plays an important role in integrating new information with the previously stored emotional experience. Hence, the impact of early maternal separation and isolation stress (MS) during the stress hyporesponsive period (SHRP) on fear memory retention and sleep in rats were studied. The neonatal rats were subjected to maternal separation and isolation stress during postnatal days 5-7 (6 h daily/3 d). Polysomnographic recordings and differential fear conditioning was carried out in two different sets of rats aged 2 months. The neuronal replay during REM sleep was analyzed using different parameters. MS rats showed increased time in REM stage and total sleep period also increased. MS rats showed fear generalization with increased fear memory retention than normal control (NC). The detailed analysis of the local field potentials across different time periods of REM sleep showed increased theta oscillations in the hippocampus, amygdala and cortical circuits. Our findings suggest that stress during SHRP has sensitized the hippocampus amygdala cortical loops which could be due to increased release of corticosterone that generally occurs during REM sleep. These rats when subjected to fear conditioning exhibit increased fear memory and increased, fear generalization. The development of helplessness, anxiety and sleep changes in human patients, thus, could be related to the reduced thermal, tactile and social stimulation during SHRP on brain plasticity and fear memory functions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
Publisher:	ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Keywords:	Early maternal separation stress; Fear memory; Sleep; Theta-gamma oscillations; Hippocampus; Amygdala; Prefrontal cortex
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Mathematics
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2014 05:09
Last Modified:	12 Nov 2014 05:09
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/50219

Actions (login required)

View Item