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
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- 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
- KMID: 2535064
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en22033
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.
