Number, order and time influence how the brain integrates distinct experiences
- 1UNSW Sydney
Abstract
How does the brain integrate experiences that are separated in time? The present study addressed this question using sensory preconditioning protocols in rats. In these protocols, rats integrate an A-B association (e.g., tone-light) formed in stage 1 with a B-shock association (e.g., light-shock) formed in stage 2 to generate fear responses (freezing) when tested with A alone in stage 3. Here we show that the mechanism of integration depends on the number, order and timing of events across the two stages of training. When the events are novel (low number of exposures) and the interval between stages 1 and 2 is short (24 hours), the A-B and B-shock associations are integrated through formation of a mediated A-shock association during stage 2. By contrast, when the events are more familiar (greater number of exposures), ordered in a particular way, and the interval between stages 1 and 2 is long (14-days), the A-B and B-shock associations are integrated through their chaining at the time of testing with A alone. Thus, number, order and time determine how distinct experiences are integrated in the brain. These findings are discussed with respect to theories of integration and information processing in the medial temporal lobe.
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BibTeX
@misc{thomas2026number,
title = {{Number, order and time influence how the brain integrates distinct experiences}},
author = {A. B. Thomas and F. S. Wong and S. Killcross and R. F. Westbrook and N. Holmes},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.15.751783},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751783v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Number, order and time influence how the brain integrates distinct experiences
AU - A. B. Thomas
AU - F. S. Wong
AU - S. Killcross
AU - R. F. Westbrook
AU - N. Holmes
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/15
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.15.751783
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751783v1
AB - How does the brain integrate experiences that are separated in time? The present study addressed this question using sensory preconditioning protocols in rats. In these protocols, rats integrate an A-B association (e.g., tone-light) formed in stage 1 with a B-shock association (e.g., light-shock) formed in stage 2 to generate fear responses (freezing) when tested with A alone in stage 3. Here we show that the mechanism of integration depends on the number, order and timing of events across the two stages of training. When the events are novel (low number of exposures) and the interval between stages 1 and 2 is short (24 hours), the A-B and B-shock associations are integrated through formation of a mediated A-shock association during stage 2. By contrast, when the events are more familiar (greater number of exposures), ordered in a particular way, and the interval between stages 1 and 2 is long (14-days), the A-B and B-shock associations are integrated through their chaining at the time of testing with A alone. Thus, number, order and time determine how distinct experiences are integrated in the brain. These findings are discussed with respect to theories of integration and information processing in the medial temporal lobe.
ER -