Source Paper
Activation of ERK/MAP Kinase in the Amygdala Is Required for Memory Consolidation of Pavlovian Fear Conditioning
Glenn E. Schafe, Coleen M. Atkins, Michael W. Swank, Elizabeth P. Bauer, J. David Sweatt et al.
Journal of Neuroscience • 2000
Pavlovian Fear Conditioning
Objective: Evaluate the role of ERK/MAPK signaling cascade in the amygdala during Pavlovian fear conditioning and assess whether ERK/MAPK activation is necessary for memory consolidation of fear conditioning
This is a Pavlovian Fear Conditioning protocol using Not explicitly stated in provided text as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 2 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 2000 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
Not explicitly stated in provided text • Not explicitly stated in provided text • Not explicitly stated in provided text • Not explicitly stated in provided text • Not explicitly stated in provided text • Not explicitly stated in provided text
Study window
~3 hour study window | ~5.8 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Pavlovian Fear Conditioning • Tissue Collection and Analysis at Multiple Timepoints • U0126 Infusion into Lateral Amygdala
Primary readouts
- ERK/MAPK phosphorylation levels in lateral amygdala at different timepoints post-conditioning
- Long-term memory of Pavlovian fear conditioning
- Short-term memory of Pavlovian fear conditioning
- Long-term potentiation in lateral amygdala slices
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
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- Verify the animal model, intervention setup, and collection timepoints against the source paper.
- Check that every direct vendor link matches the exact specification your lab plans to run.
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- Work through the protocol steps in order and use the inline vendor chips only when you need to source or verify an item.
- Jump to Experimental Context for readouts, data shape, and analysis flow before planning downstream analysis.
Protocol Steps
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Pavlovian Fear Conditioning
Subjects receive paired presentations of tone and shock to establish fear conditioning
Note: Paired tone-shock presentations are critical to distinguish from nonassociative auditory stimulation, foot shock sensitization, or unpaired presentations
View evidence from paper
“paired presentations of tone and shock rather than to nonassociative auditory stimulation, foot shock sensitization, or unpaired tone-shock presentations”
Tissue Collection and Analysis at Multiple Timepoints
Amygdala tissue, specifically lateral nucleus (LA), is collected at 15, 30, 60, and 180 minutes after conditioning to assess ERK/MAPK phosphorylation
Note: ERK/MAPK is transiently activated at 60 min but not at other timepoints
View evidence from paper
“ERK/MAPK is transiently activated–phosphorylated in the amygdala, specifically the lateral nucleus (LA), at 60 min, but not 15, 30, or 180 min, after conditioning”
U0126 Infusion into Lateral Amygdala
U0126, an ERK/MAPK inhibitor, is infused into the lateral amygdala at dose-dependent concentrations
Note: Infusions are aimed at the LA to test effects on memory consolidation
View evidence from paper
“infusions of U0126, an inhibitor of ERK/MAPK activation, aimed at the LA, dose-dependently impair long-term memory of Pavlovian fear conditioning”
Memory Testing
Assessment of long-term and short-term memory of Pavlovian fear conditioning following U0126 infusion
Note: U0126 impairs long-term memory but leaves short-term memory intact
View evidence from paper
“dose-dependently impair long-term memory of Pavlovian fear conditioning but leaves short-term memory intact”
In Vitro Long-Term Potentiation Measurement
Bath application of U0126 to lateral amygdala slices to assess effects on long-term potentiation
Note: U0126 impairs long-term potentiation in the LA in vitro
View evidence from paper
“bath application of U0126 impairs long-term potentiation in the LA in vitro”