Induction of a physiological memory in the cerebral cortex by stimulation of the nucleus basalis

摘要: Abstract Auditory cortical receptive field plasticity produced during behavioral learning may be considered to constitute "physiological memory" because it has major characteristics of memory: associativity, specificity, rapid acquisition, and long-term retention. To investigate basal forebrain mechanisms in plasticity, we paired a tone with stimulation the nucleus basalis, main subcortical source acetylcholine, adult guinea pig. Nucleus basalis electroencephalogram desynchronization that was blocked by systemic atropine. Paired tone/nucleus stimulation, but not unpaired induced similar learning. Thus activation is sufficient induce possibly via cholinergic actions cortex.