It has long been known that sleep is important for memory, and
elucidating the cellular mechanisms involved is of great scientific and
social significance. We focus on synaptic plasticity, a cellular
phenomenon of memory, to investigate the mechanisms by which
episodic memories are consolidated during sleep in the mouse. Longterm potentiation (LTP) is a representative phenomenon of synaptic
plasticity, and we have recently developed a method to specifically
cancel LTP by light irradiation. Using this method, we have shown
that LTP events occur in the hippocampus and anterior cingulate
cortex during post-learning sleep and are important for memory
consolidation. I will also introduce ongoing projects on long-term
recording of cellular activity during post-learning sleep using ArcdVenus and FRET imaging.

Dr. Akihiro Goto
Hakubi Center for Advanced Research,
Kyoto University

国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構 (IIIS)