Cited by 703Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Parvalbumin-expressing basket-cell network plasticity induced by experience regulates adult learning

Donato, Flavio, Rompani, Santiago Belluco, Caroni, Pico·2013·Nature

Abstract

Learning and memory processes can be influenced by recent experience, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Enhanced plasticity during critical periods of early life is linked to differentiating parvalbumin (PV)-interneuron networks, suggesting that recent experience may modulate learning by targeting the differentiation state of PV neurons in the adult. Here we show that environmental enrichment and Pavlovian contextual fear conditioning induce opposite, sustained and reversible hippocampal PV-network configurations in adult mice. Specifically, enrichment promotes the emergence of large fractions of low-differentiation (low PV and GAD67 expression) basket cells with low excitatory-to-inhibitory synaptic-density ratios, whereas fear conditioning leads to large fractions of high-differentiation (high PV and GAD67 expression) basket cells with high excitatory-to-inhibitory synaptic-density ratios. Pharmacogenetic inhibition or activation of PV neurons was sufficient to induce such opposite low-PV-network or high-PV-network configurations, respectively. The low-PV-network configuration enhanced structural synaptic plasticity, and memory consolidation and retrieval, whereas these were reduced by the high-PV-network configuration. We then show that maze navigation learning induces a hippocampal low-PV-network configuration paralleled by enhanced memory and structural synaptic plasticity throughout training, followed by a shift to a high-PV-network configuration after learning completion. The shift to a low-PV-network configuration specifically involved increased vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-positive GABAergic boutons and synaptic transmission onto PV neurons. Closely comparable low- and high-PV-network configurations involving VIP boutons were specifically induced in primary motor cortex upon rotarod motor learning. These results uncover a network plasticity mechanism induced after learning through VIP-PV microcircuit modulation, and involving large, sustained and reversible shifts in the configuration of PV basket-cell networks in the adult. This novel form of experience-related plasticity in the adult modulates memory consolidation, retrieval and learning, and might be harnessed for therapeutic strategies to promote cognitive enhancement and neuroprotection.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature12866

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Authors
Donato, F., Rompani, S. B., & Caroni, P.
Affiliations
Friedrich Miescher Institute (CH)
Corresponding author
Caroni, Pico
Venue
Nature
Published
2013-12-11
Volume
504
Issue
7479
Pages
272-276
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2025806474
Cited by
703
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 65 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 1
FWCI
24.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • edoc (University of Basel) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Novartis Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Keywords
parvalbumin, basket cells, interneurons, hippocampus, adult learning, synaptic plasticity, environmental enrichment, fear conditioning, GAD67, memory consolidation, memory retrieval, network configuration, cognitive enhancement, neuroprotection, critical period, trial-and-error learning, memory reconsolidation
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Differentiation, Conditioning, Classical, Fear, Glutamate Decarboxylase, Hippocampus, Interneurons, Learning, Male, Memory, Synaptic Transmission, Neuronal Plasticity, Parvalbumins, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Maze Learning, Biomedical Enhancement, Mice, GABAergic Neurons

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