Dr Jonathan Lee
Qualifications: MA, PhD (Cantab)
Position: Lecturer
Telephone Number: 0121 414 2607
Email: j.l.c.lee [at] bham.ac.uk
Research Interests
My research is focussed on the basic mechanisms of learning and memory. These range from the neural circuits that support memory acquisition and persistence, to the cellular mechanisms that operate within those circuits. In particular, I am interested in the different phases that occur in the lifetime of a memory: initial acquisition, subsequent memory stabilisation, retrieval/expression. Each of these processes contributes to the long-term persistence of memories. Recently, particular attention has been paid to the phenomenon of memory reconsolidation, whereby a memory may be modified after its retrieval, perhaps to maintain its adaptive relevance. Impairing the retrieval-induced reconsolidation phase results in severe amnesia for that, often old, memory.
The study of memory reconsolidation is a major focus of my research. Not only might it prove to be the mechanism underlying so-called “false memories”, but it has also been highlighted as a potential target in the treatment of some psychiatric disorders. Conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and drug addiction depend to a large extent upon the formation of extremely powerful and persistent emotional memories. It may be possible, therefore, to reduce the impact of these memories by blocking their reconsolidation. By using preclinical models of emotional learning and memory, we can begin to explore the clinical benefits of such an approach.
Publications
Lee JL (2009) Reconsolidation: maintaining memory relevance. Trends Neurosci 32:413-420.
Lee JLC, Gardner RJ, Butler VJ, Everitt BJ (2009) D-cycloserine potentiates the reconsolidation of cocaine-associated memories. Learn Mem 16:82-85
Lee JLC (2008) Memory reconsolidation mediates the strengthening of memories by additional learning. Nat Neurosci 11:1264-1266.
Lee JLC, Everitt BJ (2008) Reactivation-dependent amnesia in pavlovian approach and instrumental transfer. Learn Mem 15:597-602.
Lee JLC, Everitt BJ (2008) Reactivation-dependent amnesia for appetitive memories is determined by the contingency of stimulus presentation. Learn Mem 15:390-393.
Lee JLC, Everitt BJ (2008) Appetitive memory reconsolidation depends upon NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission. Neurobiol Learn Mem 90:147-154.
Milton AL, Lee JLC, Butler VJ, Gardner R, Everitt BJ (2008) Intra-amygdala and systemic antagonism of NMDA receptors prevents the reconsolidation of drug-associated memory and impairs subsequently both novel and previously acquired drug-seeking behaviors. J Neurosci 28:8230-8237.
Milton AL, Lee JLC, Everitt BJ (2008) Reconsolidation of appetitive memories for both natural and drug reinforcement is dependent on b-adrenergic receptors. Learn Mem 15:88-92.
Lee JLC, Everitt BJ (2007) Reactivation-dependent amnesia: disrupting memory reconsolidation as a novel approach for the treatment of maladaptive memory disorders. In: Memories: Molecules and Circuits (Bontempi B, Silva AJ, Cristen Y, eds). Berlin: Sringer-Verlag.
Robbins TW, Cardinal RN, Di Ciano P, Halligan PW, Hellemans KG, Lee JLC, Everitt BJ (2007) Neuroscience of drugs and addiction. In: Drugs and the Future: Brain Science, Addiction and Society (Nutt D, Robbins TW, Stimson GV, Ince M, Jackson A, eds). London: Academic Press.
Hellemans KGC, Everitt BJ, Lee JLC (2006) Disrupting reconsolidation of conditioned withdrawal memories in the basolateral amygdala reduces suppression of heroin seeking in rats. J Neurosci 26:12694-12699.
Lee JLC, Milton AL, Everitt BJ (2006) Reconsolidation and extinction of conditioned fear: inhibition and potentiation. J Neurosci 26:10051-10056.
Lee JLC, Milton AL, Everitt BJ (2006) Cue-induced cocaine seeking and relapse are reduced by disruption of drug memory reconsolidation. J Neurosci 26:5881-5887.
Lee JLC, Dickinson A, Everitt BJ (2005) Conditioned suppression and freezing as measures of aversive Pavlovian conditioning: effects of discrete amygdala lesions and overtraining. Behav Brain Res 159:221-233.
Lee JLC, Di Ciano P, Thomas KL, Everitt BJ (2005) Disrupting reconsolidation of drug memories reduces cocaine seeking behavior. Neuron 47:795-801.
Lee JLC, Everitt BJ, Thomas KL (2004) Independent cellular processes for hippocampal memory consolidation and reconsolidation. Science 304:839-843.
