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Stress Hormone Found to be a Requisite for Cerebellar Synaptic Plasticity
Laboratory for Memory and Learning |
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Dr. Mariko Miyata, the Special Postdoctral Researcher at the Laboratory for Memory and Learning (currently assistant in the First Physiology Dept., Tokyo WomenÕs Medical College) et al. have found that the CRF (Corticotropin-Releasing Factor) secreted in the brain under stress is a permissire factor for causing long-term depression which is a basic process in the motor learning function of the cerebellum. (See Note).
CRF is called the stress hormone and is contained in regions involved in reactions against stress such as the hypothalamus and amygdaloid complex. Although it has also been known to be present in climbing fibers of the cerebellum, its actual function in this location is so far not understood. The recent findings have made it clear for the first time that this hormone is involved in a cerebellar learning function, and also suggests that motor learning is involved in stress reactions. These results are expected to contribute significantly to the elucidation of the learning functions of the brain and also to influence hypotheses in the fields of sports medicine and rehabilitation.
The details of this study were announced in the USA in Neuron issued on April 23, 1999.
[ Note ]
A phenomenon caused by information stimulation occurs in the cerebellum (the location in the brain that accommodates motor learning), that consists of a long-term depression of synaptic information transmission efficiency. In contrast to this, in the case of the ordinary learning processes occurring in the hippocampus information stimulation enhances the information transmission efficiency of synapses (this phenomenon is referred to as long-term potentiation).
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Miyata, M., Okada, D., Hashimoto, K., Kano, M., Ito, M.
Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Plays a Permissive Role in Cerebellar Long-Term Depression
Neuron, Vol. 22, pp.763-775, April (1999)
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