Projects: Aging and Cognition CaMKII and learning Cognitive enhancements Cortical memories Enhancing plasticity and recovery Learning disabilities Memory allocation Novel memory genes Schizophrenia Science of Science	by Stan Geier Finding remote memory genes Our laboratory has started a genetic screen for mutants that specifically affect remote memory.  After screening only a small number of targeted mutants (mostly purchased from Jackson Laboratories), we have already found several candidate genes that appear to profoundly affect remote memory.  Out of of this group of mutants we have already been able to confirm 2 novel remote memory mutants! The advantage of screening gene-targeted mutants versus mutants generated from traditional mutagenic approaches is that with targeted mutants we already know the identity of the genes involved.
Memory consolidation We are also interested in using genomic approaches, such as microarrays, to search for genes required for memory consolidation. The general strategy involves a combination of both genomics and transgenic/KO approaches to define molecular pathways associated with memory formation. Importantly, we have a long standing collaboration with the laboratories of Joshua Trachetenberg, Kevin Fox and Michael Stryker on molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in cortical pasticity. Our results suggest that these mechanisms have a central role in remote memory. These studies are continuing under the auspices of our NIMH Conti Center .
Key reference Matynia, A., S.G. Anagnostaras, B.J. Wiltgen, M. Lacuesta, M.S. Fanselow, and A.J. Silva, A high through-put reverse genetic screen identifies two genes involved in remote memory in mice. PLoS ONE, 2008. 3(5): p. e2121.(Click Here)
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