Visuosocial Preference Memory, but Not Avoidance Memory, Requires PLCγ1 in the CA2 Hippocampus
- Author:
Sunpil KIM
1
;
Jeongyeon KIM
;
Yongmin Mason PARK
;
Pann-Ghill SUH
;
C. Justin LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Experimental Neurobiology 2022;31(5):332-342
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- 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.
