Transient reactivation of small ensembles of adult-born neurons during REM sleep supports memory consolidation in mice

Sakthivel Srinivasan, Iyo Koyanagi, Pablo Vergara, Yuteng Wang, Akinobu Ohba, Toshie Naoi, Kaspar E. Vogt, Yoan Chérasse, Noriki Kutsumura, Takeshi Sakurai, Taro Tezuka and Masanori Sakaguchi ()
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Sakthivel Srinivasan: University of Tsukuba
Iyo Koyanagi: University of Tsukuba
Pablo Vergara: University of Tsukuba
Yuteng Wang: University of Tsukuba
Akinobu Ohba: University of Tsukuba
Toshie Naoi: University of Tsukuba
Kaspar E. Vogt: University of Tsukuba
Yoan Chérasse: University of Tsukuba
Noriki Kutsumura: University of Tsukuba
Takeshi Sakurai: University of Tsukuba
Taro Tezuka: University of Tsukuba
Masanori Sakaguchi: University of Tsukuba

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract While memory consolidation is widely believed to require memory reactivation synchronized with theta oscillations during REM sleep, direct causal evidence linking specific neuronal ensembles to this process has been lacking. Strong theta oscillations arise in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, where a small population of principal neurons is continuously generated throughout adulthood. Although these adult-born neurons (ABNs) are known to modulate hippocampal circuits for memory, the causality between their specific information content and memory-related behavior was unknown. Here, we show that REM sleep reactivation of memory ensembles comprising as few as ~3 ABNs is necessary for fear memory consolidation. Crucially, we found that the synchronization of ABN activity with a specific theta phase is essential for associative memory consolidation. Our findings thus provide causal evidence that consolidation critically depends on both the reactivation of minimal neuronal populations and precise neuronal coordination within theta-defined temporal windows.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62554-8

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