Emotional memory systems in the brain

摘要: The neural mechanisms of emotion and memory have long been thought to reside side by side, if not in overlapping structures, the limbic system. However, system concept is no longer acceptable as an account basis or being replaced with specific circuit accounts emotional processes. Emotional memory, a special category involving implicit (probably unconscious) learning storage information about significance events, modeled rodent experiments using aversive classical conditioning techniques. underlying critically involves amygdala structures which it connected. Afferent inputs from sensory processing areas thalamus cortex mediate situations cues, whereas more general, contextual cues projections hippocampal formation. Within amygdala, lateral nucleus (AL) interface central linkage motor systems involved control species-typical behaviors autonomic responses. Studies cellular these pathways focused on direct relay auditory thalamus. These studies show that single cells AL respond both conditioned stimulus unconditioned inputs, leading notion might be critical site sensory-sensory integration learning. thalamo-amygdala pathway also exhibits long-term potentiation, form synaptic plasticity underlie functions circuit. contains uses amino acid glutamate transmission, suggesting possibility amino-acid mediated pathway. We are thus well way level understanding at least one memory.