Andrea Pichardo
Groups STEM Summer Research Program
Major: Biology
Mentor: Ningyao Geng
The hippocampus is an important structure for memory consolidation and retrieval. Sharp wave ripples (SWR), which have been associated with memory consolidation are known to make short term memories into long term memories. It is unknown how SWRs are generated, but it is known that cholinergic neurons can modulate them. To figure out whether cholinergic neurons modulate SWR through acetylcholine, we implanted a shuttle drive to record and compare the frequency of SWR occurrences before and after the injection of cholinergic receptor antagonists. If acetylcholine modulates SWRs through suppression, blocking acetylcholine receptors would release the inhibition, causing an increase in SWR occurrences. SWR frequency did not increase with scopolamine injection, suggesting that SWRs are not modulated through acetylcholine muscarinic receptors. This suggests that SWRs are modulated through nicotinic or Gaba. This information is essential to the study of SWR and memory consolidation and with this further research with these elements understood can take place.
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