Molecular Determinants of the Spacing Effect

Long-term memory formation is sensitive to the pattern of training sessions. Training distributed over time (spaced training) is superior at generating long-term memories than training presented with little or no rest interval (massed training). This spacing effect was observed in a range of organis...

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Main Authors: Faisal Naqib, Wayne S. Sossin, Carole A. Farah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/581291
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author Faisal Naqib
Wayne S. Sossin
Carole A. Farah
author_facet Faisal Naqib
Wayne S. Sossin
Carole A. Farah
author_sort Faisal Naqib
collection DOAJ
description Long-term memory formation is sensitive to the pattern of training sessions. Training distributed over time (spaced training) is superior at generating long-term memories than training presented with little or no rest interval (massed training). This spacing effect was observed in a range of organisms from invertebrates to humans. In the present paper, we discuss the evidence supporting cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein 2 (CREB), a transcription factor, as being an important molecule mediating long-term memory formation after spaced training. We also review the main upstream proteins that regulate CREB in different model organisms. Those include the eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF2α), protein phosphatase I (PP1), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the protein tyrosine phosphatase corkscrew. Finally, we discuss PKC activation and protein synthesis and degradation as mechanisms by which neurons decode the spacing intervals.
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spelling doaj-art-c2fd0deca58049f7843345b284832f9d2025-08-20T02:19:04ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432012-01-01201210.1155/2012/581291581291Molecular Determinants of the Spacing EffectFaisal Naqib0Wayne S. Sossin1Carole A. Farah2Department of Physiology, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, CanadaDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, CanadaDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, CanadaLong-term memory formation is sensitive to the pattern of training sessions. Training distributed over time (spaced training) is superior at generating long-term memories than training presented with little or no rest interval (massed training). This spacing effect was observed in a range of organisms from invertebrates to humans. In the present paper, we discuss the evidence supporting cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein 2 (CREB), a transcription factor, as being an important molecule mediating long-term memory formation after spaced training. We also review the main upstream proteins that regulate CREB in different model organisms. Those include the eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF2α), protein phosphatase I (PP1), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the protein tyrosine phosphatase corkscrew. Finally, we discuss PKC activation and protein synthesis and degradation as mechanisms by which neurons decode the spacing intervals.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/581291
spellingShingle Faisal Naqib
Wayne S. Sossin
Carole A. Farah
Molecular Determinants of the Spacing Effect
Neural Plasticity
title Molecular Determinants of the Spacing Effect
title_full Molecular Determinants of the Spacing Effect
title_fullStr Molecular Determinants of the Spacing Effect
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Determinants of the Spacing Effect
title_short Molecular Determinants of the Spacing Effect
title_sort molecular determinants of the spacing effect
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/581291
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AT waynessossin moleculardeterminantsofthespacingeffect
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