Pavlovian fear conditioning is a particularly useful behavioral paradigm for exploring the
molecular mechanisms of learning and memory because a well-defined response to a …

The introduction of high-resolution time lapse imaging and molecular biological tools has
changed dramatically the rate of progress towards the understanding of the complex …

Associative memory formation is essential for an animal's survival by ensuring adaptive
behavioral responses in an ever-changing environment. This is particularly important under …

The last 10 years have witnessed a surge of interest for the mechanisms underlying the
acquisition and extinction of classically conditioned fear responses. In part, this results from …

Dendritic spines are small actin-rich protrusions from neuronal dendrites that form the
postsynaptic part of most excitatory synapses and are major sites of information processing …

A proper response against stressors is critical for survival. In mammals, the stress response
is primarily mediated by secretion of glucocorticoids via the hypothalamic–pituitary …

Synapse regulation exploits the capacity of actin to function as a stable structural component
or as a dynamic filament. Beyond its well-appreciated role in eliciting visible morphological …

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family of structurally
related proteins that promote neuronal differentiation and survival during development [1, 2] …

Dendritic spines are multifunctional integrative units of the nervous system and are highly
diverse and dynamic in nature. Both internal and external stimuli influence dendritic spine …

The small size of dendritic spines belies the elaborate role they play in excitatory synaptic
transmission and ultimately complex behaviors. The cytoskeletal architecture of the spine is …