Dr Amy Milton
University position
Lecturer
Dr Amy Milton is pleased to consider applications from prospective PhD students.
Departments
Institutes
Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute
Home page
Research Themes
Interests
Memory is a critical function of the brain, but little is known about the mechanisms by which memories are modified, adapted, and persist. Memories are known to 'reconsolidate' undergoing updating and strengthening following their destabilisation at retrieval. I study the neurochemical, molecular and intracellular basis of the reconsolidation process, for aversive (fear) and appetitive (addictive drug) memories. Using translationally relevant animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and drug addiction, I also focus on using this knowledge of memory reconsolidation mechanisms to develop treatments for these disorders, based on the disruption of maladaptive memories.
Research Focus
Keywordsmemory reconsolidation addiction post-traumatic stress disorder glutamate adrenaline |
Clinical conditionsAddiction Amnesia Anxiety disorders Post-traumatic stress disorder |
Equipment
Behavioural analysis
Collaborators
CambridgePatrizia Ratano | United KingdomJonathan Lee |
Key publications
Milton AL, Everitt BJ (2010), “The psychological and neurochemical mechanisms of drug memory reconsolidation: implications for the treatment of addiction.” Eur J Neurosci 31(12):2308-19 Details
Milton AL, Lee JL, 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(33):8230-7 Details
Milton AL, Lee JLC, Everitt BJ (2008), “Reconsolidation of appetitive memories for both natural and drug reinforcement is dependent on b-adrenergic receptors” Learning & Memory 15:88-92
Publications
2012
Milton AL, Everitt BJ (2012), “The persistence of maladaptive memory: Addiction, drug memories and anti-relapse treatments.” Neurosci Biobehav Rev 36(4):1119-39 Details
Milton AL, Schramm MJ, Wawrzynski JR, Gore F, Oikonomou-Mpegeti F, Wang NQ, Samuel D, Economidou D, Everitt BJ (2012), “Antagonism at NMDA receptors, but not β-adrenergic receptors, disrupts the reconsolidation of pavlovian conditioned approach and instrumental transfer for ethanol-associated conditioned stimuli.” Psychopharmacology (Berl) 219(3):751-61 Details
2010
Théberge FR, Milton AL, Belin D, Lee JL, Everitt BJ (2010), “The basolateral amygdala and nucleus accumbens core mediate dissociable aspects of drug memory reconsolidation.” Learn Mem 17(9):444-53 Details
2006
Lee JLC, Milton AL, Everitt BJ (2006), “Reconsolidation and extinction of conditioned fear: inhibition and potentiation” The Journal of Neuroscience 26:10051-10056
Lee JLC, Milton AL, Everitt BJ (2006), “Cue-induced cocaine seeking and relapse are reduced by disruption of drug memory reconsolidation” The Journal of Neuroscience 26:5881-5887
2004
Milton AL, Marshall JW, Cummings RM, Baker HF, Ridley RM (2004), “Dissociation of hemi-spatial and hemi-motor impairments in a unilateral primate model of Parkinson's disease.” Behav Brain Res 150(1-2):55-63 Details
Research and Collaboration
News, events and seminars
Information for...
