Success in Stress-Depression Model

• Dr. Matt Lattal
• Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience
• Success in stress-depression like model
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My research is focused on understanding how new memories form and how, once formed, these memories can be modulated or weakened through environmental and pharmacological interventions. Research in my lab investigates memory at three different levels of analysis. At the behavioral level, we are interested in how different environmental experiences can cause memories to be formed or suppressed. At the neurobiological systems level, we focus on how brain circuits that mediate memory are altered by behavioral experience. At the molecular level, we investigate whether manipulating epigenetic processes can modulate long-term memories. Recent work has focused on the control of gene expression by pharmacological modulation of chromatin, the protein complex that packages genomic DNA. Relaxing chromatin structure by administering a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor can promote gene expression by facilitating interactions between transcription factors and DNA. We have found that HDAC inhibitors promote the development and persistence of different kinds of memories. At a molecular level, these findings reinforce the idea that regulation of gene expression via chromatin modification is critical for memory. At a clinical level, these findings suggest that modulating chromatin modification during an episode of learning may lead to a persistent form of memory.

Success in Multiple Stress Models

• Mouse fear conditioning
• Attenuated learning at trauma event
• Attenuated learning after recall of trauma memory
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• Rat fear conditioning
• Attenuated learning at trauma event
• Attenuated learning after recall of trauma memory
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• Rat predator scent stress by Hagit Cohen
• Attenuated learning at trauma event
• Attenuated learning after recall of trauma memory
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