Exp Neurobiol.  2022 Oct;31(5):332-342. 10.5607/en22033.

Visuosocial Preference Memory, but Not Avoidance Memory, Requires PLCγ1 in the CA2 Hippocampus

Affiliations
  • 1KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
  • 2Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Korea
  • 3Emotion, Cognition and Behavior Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu 41062, Korea
  • 4IBS School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
  • 5Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu 41062, Korea

Abstract

Visuosocial memory is defined as stored visual information containing social context. Primates have a powerful ability to associate visuosocial memory with episodic memory. However, the existence of visuosocial memory in mice remains unclear. Here, we design a novel vision-specific social memory test using a portrait picture or mirrored self-image and demonstrate that mice can distinguish conspecific from other species by forming a visuosocial memory. Because CA2 hippocampus has been reported as a critical brain region for social memory, we develop CA2-specific blockade of memory formation through deletion of phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCγ1), which is a key molecule in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway. Interestingly, these mice have intact sociability but impaired social memory in three chamber test and five-trial social memory test, which is highly dependent on visual information. Finally, PLCγ1 deletion in CA2 impairs visuosocial preference memory, but not avoidance memory, whereas non-social object recognition is intact. Our study proposes that mice have visuosocial memory, just as primates and humans.

Keyword

Visuosocial memory; CA2 hippocampus; Phospholipase C gamma 1; Social behavior
Full Text Links
  • EN
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr