Neurodevelopmental events underlying information acquisition and storage

Abstract

This brief overview presents evidence to suggest that information storage, in part, may be based on synapse connectivity changes mediated by a replay of neurodevelopmental events. These considerations are based on studies which have monitored change in neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) sialylation state during acquisition and consolidation of a passive avoidance response in the adult rat. The synapse-specific isoform of NCAM, NCAM180 is demonstrated to increase sialylation state in the hippocampus between 12-24 h after training and to produce a novel sialylated form of 210 kDa. Interventive studies with specific antibodies showed NCAM to play a specific role at 6-8 h after training, the amnestic effect of which does not become apparent until the process of NCAM sialylation is complete.