Cited by 1,310Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory Processes and Influences

Fear conditioning induces associative long-term potentiation in the amygdala

Rogan, Michael T., Stäubli, Ursula V., LeDoux, Joseph E.·1997·Nature

Abstract

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is an experience-dependent form of neural plasticity believed to involve mechanisms that underlie memory formation. LTP has been studied most extensively in the hippocampus, but the relation between hippocampal LTP and memory has been difficult to establish. Here we explore the relation between LTP and memory in fear conditioning, an amygdala-dependent form of learning in which an innocuous conditioned stimulus (CS) elicits fear responses after being associatively paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US). We have previously shown that LTP induction in pathways that transmit auditory CS information to the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) increases auditory-evoked field potentials in this nucleus. Now we show that fear conditioning alters auditory CS-evoked responses in LA in the same way as LTP induction. The changes parallel the acquisition of CS-elicited fear behaviour, are enduring, and do not occur if the CS and US remain unpaired. LTP-like associative processes thus occur during fear conditioning, and these may underlie the long-term associative plasticity that constitutes memory of the conditioning experience.

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Crossref · 10.1038/37601

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  • Fear conditioning produced an enhancement of CS-evoked activity in the amygdala.

    “These investigators demonstrated that fear conditioning produced an enhancement of CS-evoked activity in the amygdala.”
  • Although there is considerable evidence linking LTP to behavior memory, more evidence is needed to solidify this link.

    “However, although there is considerable evidence linking LTP to behavior memory (45, 441–443), more evidence is needed to solidify this link.”

    From Synaptic memory and CaMKII (2023) · cites this paper as [441]

  • CB1 receptors are found in high concentrations within an amygdala-hippocampal-cortico-striatal circuit responsible for processing and storing fear-related memories and coordinating fear-related behaviors.

    “and are found in high concentrations within an amygdala-hippocampal-cortico-striatal circuit responsible for processing and storing fear-related memories and coordinating fear-related behaviors14–16.”
  • Processing of sensory information in the BLA results in the formation of associations between neutral predictive stimuli and outcomes of positive or negative valence via Hebbian mechanisms.

    “Processing of this sensory information in the BLA results in the formation of associations between neutral predictive stimuli and outcomes of positive or negative valence56 via Hebbian mechanisms57-59.”

    From Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety (2015) · cites this paper as [59]

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Authors
Rogan, M. T., Stäubli, U. V., & LeDoux, J. E.
Affiliations
New York University (US)
Corresponding author
Rogan, Michael T.
Venue
Nature
Published
1997-12-01
Volume
390
Issue
6660
Pages
604-607
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W1703928766
Cited by
1,310
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 63 · 2013: 56 · 2012: 46
FWCI
30.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
long-term potentiation, fear conditioning, amygdala, lateral amygdala, associative plasticity, memory formation, auditory conditioned stimulus, neuroplasticity
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Animals, Association Learning, Conditioning, Classical, Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Fear, Memory, Long-Term Potentiation, Rats

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