Interneurons Hold Key Memory Receptors

A study has found that the key receptor regulating memory formation, α5-GABAARs, is located on interneurons rather than pyramidal neurons as previously thought. The general anesthetic etomidate and many drugs designed to enhance cognition target α5-GABAARs, making this discovery important for drug development. The study found that knocking out α5-GABAARs from interneurons impaired spatial memory and prevented etomidate from blocking memory formation, while knocking them out from pyramidal neurons did not alter memory. The authors conclude that interneuronal α5-GABAARs play a critical role in promoting spatial learning and serve as essential targets for drug modulation of contextual memory.