Note: Front Cover -- Copyright page -- Essence of Memory -- List of contributors -- Preface -- Contents -- Section I. Cellular and Molecular Approaches to the Essence of memory -- Chapter 1. Molecular memory traces -- Introduction -- What types of cellular changes underlie memory formation? -- Molecular memory can be dissociated into temporal phases -- Protein-synthesis/gene-expression-dependent memory -- Conclusions -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 2. PKMzeta, LTP maintenance, and the dynamic molecular biology of memory storage -- The discovery of PKMzeta -- PKMzeta is synthesized from a PKMzeta mRNA -- PKMzeta synthesis is regulated by other protein kinases in LTP induction -- PKMzeta potentiates postsynaptic AMPA receptor responses -- PKMzeta maintains late-LTP -- PKMzeta maintains potentiation after synaptic tagging -- PKMzeta maintains long-term spatial memory storage in the hippocampus -- PKMzeta maintains long-term associative memory storage in the neocortex -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 3. Understanding the importance of mRNA transport in memory -- Introduction -- mRNA transport in neurons is a dynamic and active mechanism -- The mechanisms of mRNA transport -- The molecular components of RNA granules -- The relevance of mRNA transport in memory -- Conclusions -- Abbreviations -- References -- Chapter 4. Cap-dependent translation initiation and memory -- Regulation of translation -- Localization of translation in the neuron -- Activity-induced regulation of translation initiation machinery -- Lessons learned from the 4E-BP2 knockout mouse -- Translation regulation and disease -- Future directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 5. Translational control of gene expression: a molecular switch for memory storage -- Overview of translation initiation in eukaryotes. , Pharmacologic evidence that translation regulates long-term synaptic plasticity and memory -- Genetic evidence that translation regulates long--term synaptic plasticity and memory -- GCN2 in the brain regulates selection of balanced diet -- A master switch for the conversion from short-term to long-term synaptic plasticity and memory formation -- Summary -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 6. Regulation of hippocampus-dependent memory by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase -- Introduction -- cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) -- Properties of memory -- The role of the cAMP/PKA system in spatial memory -- The role of the cAMP/PKA system in contextual conditioning -- The cAMP/PKA pathway as a target of cognition-enhancing drugs -- Synaptic tagging -- Downstream substrates for PKA in synaptic plasticity and memory storage -- The role of PKA in shaping the essence of memory -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 7. Synaptic tagging' and 'cross-tagging' and related associative reinforcement processes of functional plasticity as the cellular basis for memory formation -- LTP and LTD as elementary cellular memory models -- Consolidation of LTP and LTD: requirement for protein synthesis -- Consolidation of LTP/LTD: role for transcription? -- LTP/LTD-induction by glutamate receptors -- Non-glutamatergic, neuromodulatory and ''reinforcing'' transmitters required for late plasticity events -- Phases of LTP and LTD -- Input-specificity of late-LTP/LTD via 'synaptic tagging' and by associative properties -- Identifying molecules mediating synaptic tags and the identity of PRPs within functional compartments -- Late-associative properties of LTP and LTD: restriction of associative properties to neuronal compartments -- Physiological, structural and behavioural reinforcement of early-plasticity events by activation of neuromodulatory inputs. , Structural reinforcement: identifying modulatory brain structures -- Behavioural reinforcement: identification of content and interaction of modulatory brain structures -- Concept of 'cellular memory formation' -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 8. Synaptic plasticity in learning and memory: stress effects in the hippocampus -- Introduction: synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory -- Mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus -- Acute stress -- Conclusion -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 9. The role of the GluR-A (GluR1) AMPA receptor subunit in learning and memory -- Introduction -- The hippocampus and spatial memory -- AMPA receptors and hippocampus-dependent spatial memory -- GluR-A knockout mice -- Spatial reference memory is GluR-A-independent -- Spatial working memory is GluR-A-dependent -- Spatial working memory on the T-maze -- Genetic rescue of GluR-A-dependent spatial working memory -- GluR-A and performance on conditional learning tasks -- Non-spatial hippocampus-dependent tasks -- NMDA receptors, LTP and spatial memory -- NMDAR mutants and spatial memory -- Dentate-gyrus-specific NR1 knockout selectively impairs spatial working memory -- Is the spatial working memory impairment in GluR-A-/- mice related to frontal or hippocampal processing deficits? -- Understanding the psychological basis of the impairment in GluR-A-/- mice -- Are GluR-A-/- mice more susceptible to proactive interference? -- Two separable forms of hippocampal-dependent, spatial information processing -- Hippocampal GluR-A and priming in short-term memory -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 10. Synaptic remodeling, synaptic growth and the storage of long-term memory in Aplysia -- Introduction -- Functional architecture of the synapse -- Synaptic plasticity and memory storage. , Growth of new sensory neuron synapses and the persistence of long-term sensitization -- Time-lapse imaging reveals LTF is associated with presynaptic activation of silent synapses and growth of new functional synapses -- Remodeling of the presynaptic actin network for learning-related synaptic growth requires activation of Cdc42-mediated signaling pathways -- 5-HT-induced internalization of apCAM: a preliminary and permissive step for initiation of learning-related synaptic growth -- Nuclear translocation of apCAM-associated protein (CAMAP) activates presynaptic gene transcription for induction of LTF -- An overall view -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 11. Spine dynamics and synapse remodeling during LTP and memory processes -- Introduction -- Morphological changes associated to synaptic plasticity -- Morphological remodeling of activated spines -- Synaptogenesis associated to plasticity -- Mechanisms of plasticity-induced synaptogenesis -- Spine turnover and synapse formation mechanisms -- Memory and synapse formation mechanisms -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Section II. Systems Approaches to the Essence of Memory -- Chapter 12. The age of plasticity: developmental regulation of synaptic plasticity in neocortical microcircuits -- Plasticity and circuit excitability -- Plasticity in the visual system -- Experience-dependent plasticity in the absence of competition -- Pre-critical period plasticity within layer 4 -- Developmental changes in synaptic properties within cortical layer 4 -- Critical period plasticity within cortical layer 4 -- Experience-dependent rewiring is regulated by cortical development -- Is homeostatic plasticity still induced during the critical period? -- References -- Chapter 13. Differential mechanisms of transmission and plasticity at mossy fiber synapses. , Anatomy of the granule cell mossy fiber axon -- Basic properties of mossy fiber-inhibitory interneuron transmission -- Two types of AMPA/NMDAR populate mossy fiber-interneuron synapses -- Mossy fiber-inhibitory interneuron plasticity -- mGluR7 functions as a trigger for bidirectional plasticity at the mossy fiber-interneuron synapses -- Implications for the mossy fiber-CA3 circuit -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Chapter 14. Long-term synaptic plasticity in hippocampal feedback inhibitory networks -- Different local circuit inhibitory networks in the hippocampus -- Afferent specific mechanisms of transmission -- Afferent-specific short-term synaptic plasticity -- Long-term plasticity -- Consequences of plasticity in interneurons -- Conclusions -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 15. Persistent neural activity in the prefrontal cortex: a mechanism by which BDNF regulates working memory? -- Introduction: working memory and persistent neuronal firing -- Persistent activity and its regulation -- Possible roles of BDNF in the PFC: from working memory to persistent neural activity -- Conclusions -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Section III. Animal Approaches to the Essence of Memory -- Chapter 16. Animal models and behaviour: their importance for the study of memory -- Why use animal models to begin with? -- Which animal models? -- Future challenges for animal models: the case of the Aplysia experimental model -- Conclusion -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 17. New tricks for an old slug: the critical role of postsynaptic mechanisms in learning and memory in Aplysia -- Introduction -- Different phases of memory in Aplysia -- Mechanisms of learning-related synaptic facilitation in Aplysia -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 18. Olfactory memory traces in Drosophila -- Introduction. , Olfactory-processing circuit in Drosophila.