picture of James L. McGaugh

James L. McGaugh

Research Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
School of Biological Sciences
Fellow, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory
Degrees
  B.A., San Jose State University, 1953, Psychology
Ph.D. Physiological Psychology, University of California, Berkeley 1959
   
Graduate Programs
  Neurobiology and Behavior
 
Web Site
  http://www.cnlm.uci.edu/
 
Interests
  Neurobiology of learning and memory.
 
Abstract
  Click on Web Site address above for information on Dr. McGaugh's research.


Research in my laboratory investigates the brain processes underlying the effects of drugs and stress hormones on memory storage. I began my studies of neurochemical influences on memory storage when I was a graduate student. In early research I found that, in rats, stimulant drugs enhanced memory when they were administered immediately after training. These findings suggested that the drugs acted to stimulate memory consolidation. Subsequent findings from my laboratory that posttraining administration of stress hormones released by training experiences enhance memory consolidation indicate that activation of endogenous hormone systems plays an important role in modulating the storage of recently acquired information.


Considerable evidence from my laboratory indicates that the basolateral region of the amygdaloid complex (BLA) is critically involved in mediating drug and hormone effects on consolidation. Lesions and temporary inactivation of the BLA block the drug and hormone effects on memory. Furthermore, infusions of drugs and hormones administered directly into the BLA have effects on memory that are comparable to those of systemic injections. Our findings indicating that beta-adrenergic antagonists infused into the BLA block the effects of many drugs and hormones on memory suggest that the effects involve influences on the release of norepinephrine (NE) and activation of beta-adrenoceptors in the amygdala. In support of this view we have found, in experiments using in vivo microdialysis, that stimulation of the kind typically used in training rats induces the release of NE in the amygdala, and that drugs and hormones affecting memory modulate NE release in the amygdala. Additionally, the amount of NE released following training correlates highly with subsequent retention.


Findings of other recent experiments indicate that the amygdala influences memory by modulating the functioning of other brain regions involved in information storage. Current studies in my laboratory focus on the interaction of the amygdala with other brain regions in regulating memory storage.
 
Academic Distinctions
  Abraham Rosenberg Research Fellow, 1955-56 National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Senior PostdoctoralFellowship, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, 1961-62 Sigma Xi Phi Beta Kappa Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association, 1981 Distinguished Alumnus Award, San Jose State University, 1982 Extraordinarius Award, University of California, Irvine, 1982Distinguished Alumnus Award, School of Social Sciences, San Jose State University, 1984 Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award, University of California, Irvine, 1985 Merit Award, National Institute of Mental Health, 1987 President, American Psychological Society, 1989-91 Member, National Academy of Sciences, 1989 William James Fellow, American Psychological Society, 1989 Fellow, Society of Experimental Psychologists, 1991 President, 1992-93, Western Psychological Association Honorary Doctorate of Science, Southern Illinois University, 1991 Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1992 UCI Medal, University of California, Irvine, 1992 Establishment of James L. McGaugh Award for Excellence in Graduate Research in Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1994 James L. McGaugh Endowed Scholarship, San Jose State University, 1993 Foreign Member, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 1994 John P. McGovern Award, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1996 Fellow, World Academy of Art and Science, 1997 Robert S. Dow Neuroscience Award, 2000 Corresponding member, Mexican Academy of Sciences, 2000 Laurea Honoris Causa, University of L'Aquila, Italy, 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award, The Western Psychological Association, 2006 Norman Anderson Lifetime Achievement Award, Society of Experimental Psychologists, 2008 Appointments: San Jose State University: Department of Psychology, Assistant Professor, 1957-60; Associate Professor, 1960-61 University of Oregon:Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, 1961-64 (on leave, 1961-62) University of California, Irvine: Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior*, 1964-66; Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior*, 1966-94; Department of Psychiatry, 1968-94; School of Social Sciences, 1980-94; Research Professor, Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior*, Psychiatry, Pharmacology and School of Social Sciences, 1994- Founding Chair, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior*, 1964-67, 1971-74, 1986-89 Dean, School of Biological Sciences, 1967-70 Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, 1975-77 Executive Vice Chancellor, 1978-82 Director, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, l983-04; Fellow, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 1983- *Formerly Department of Psychobiology
 
Publications
  Ferry, B. and McGaugh, J.L. Involvement of basolateral amygdala ?2-adrenoceptors in modulating consolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory. Learning and Memory, 2008, 15, 238-243.
 
 
  Clinton, L.K., Billings, L.M., Green, K.N., Caccamo, A., Ngo, J., Oddo, S. McGaugh, J.L., LaFerla, F. Age-dependent sexual dimorphisms in cognition and stress response in the 3xTg-AD mice. Neurobiology of Disease, 2007, 28, 76-82.
 
 
  McGaugh, J.L. Searching for memory in the brain: Confronting the collusion of cells and systems. In: Neural Plasticity and Memory: From Genes to Brain Imaging, Bermudez-Rattoni, F., ed., Taylor and Francis: Boca Raton, FL, 2007, pp. 1-14.
 
 
  Roozendaal, B., Lengvilas, R., McGaugh, J.L., Civelli, O.and Reinscheid, R.K. Orphanin FQ-nociceptin interactions with the basolateral amygdala noradrenergic system in memory consolidation. Learning and Memory, 2007, 14, 29-35.
 
 
  Malin, E.L., Ibrahim, D.Y., Tu, J.W. and McGaugh, J.L. Involvement of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex in consolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory: Interaction with the basolateral amygdala. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2007, 87, 295-302.
 
 
  Billings, L.M., Green, K.N., McGaugh, J.L. and LaFerla, F.M. Learning decreases A?*56 and tau pathology and ameliorates behavioral decline in 3xT-AD mice. Journal of Neuroscience, 2007, 27, 751-761.
 
 
  Roozendaal, B., Hui, G.K., Hui, I.R., Berlau, D.J., McGaugh, J.L. and Weinberger, N.M. Basolateral amygdala noradrenergic activity mediates corticosterone-induced enhancement of auditory fear conditioning. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2006, 86, 249-255.
 
 
  Hui, I.R., Hui, G., Roozendaal, B., McGaugh, J.L. and Weinberger, N.M. Posttraining handling facilitates auditory-cue fear conditioning in rats. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2006, 86, 160-163.
 
 
  Green, K.N., Billings, L.M., Roozendaal, B., McGaugh, J.L. and LaFerla, F.M. Glucocorticoids increase A? and tau pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimers Disease. Journal of Neuroscience, 2006, 26, 9047-9056.
 
 
  McGaugh, J.L. Make mild moments memorable: Add a little arousal. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2006, 10, 345-347.
 
 
  Roozendaal, B., Okuda, S., Van der Zee, E.A. and McGaugh, J.L. Glucocorticoid enhancement of memory requires arousal-induced noradrenergic activation in the basolateral amygdala. Proceedings, National Academy of Science, 2006, 103, 6741-6746.
 
 
  Prado-Alcala, R.A., Diaz del Guante, M.A., Garin-Aguilar, M.E., Diaz-Trujillo, A., Quirarte, G., and McGaugh, J.L. Amgydala or hippocampus inactivation after retrieval induces temporary memory deficit. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2006, 86, 144-149.
 
 
  Roozendaal, B, Okuda, S., de Quervain, D. J-F, and McGaugh, J.L. Glucocorticoids interact with emotion-induced noradrenergic activation in influencing different memory functions. Neuroscience, 2006, 138, 901-910.
 
 
  Parker, E.S., Cahill, L. and McGaugh, J.L.. A case of unusual autobiographical remembering. Neurocase, 2006, 12, 35-49.
 
 
  Berlau, D.J. and McGaugh, J.L. Enhancement of extinction memory consolidation: The role of the noradrenergic and GABAergic systems within the basolateral amygdala. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2006.
 
 
  Malin, E. and McGaugh, J.L. Differential involvement of the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex and basolateral amygdala in memory for context and footshock. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 2006, 103, 1959-1963.
 
 
  McIntyre, C.K., Miyashita, T., Setlow, B., Marjon, K.D., Steward, O., Guzowski, J.F. and McGaugh, J.L. Memory-influencing intra-basolateral amygdala drug infusions modulate expression of Arc protein in the hippocampus. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 2005, 102, 10718-10723.
 
 
  McGaugh, J.L. The amygdala modulates the consolidation of memories of emotionally arousing experiences. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 2004, 27, 1-28.
 
 
  Okuda, S., Roozendaal, B. and McGaugh, J.L. Glucocorticoid effects on object recognition memory require training-associated emotional arousal. Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 2004, 101, 853-858.
 
 
  LaLumiere, R.T., Buen, T.-V., and McGaugh, J.L. Posttraining intra-basolateral amygdala infusions of norepinephrine enhance consolidation of memory for contextual fear conditioning. Journal of Neuroscience, 2003, 23, 6754-6758.
 
 
  McGaugh, J.L. Memory and Emotion: The Making of Lasting Memories. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson The Orion House Group Ltd. and New York: Columbia University Press, 2003, 162 pp.
 
 
  McGaugh, J.L. Memory consolidation and the amygdala: A systems perspective. Trends in Neurosciences, 2002, 25, 456-461.
 
 
  McGaugh, J.L. and Roozendaal, B. Role of adrenal stress hormones in forming lasting memories in the brain. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 2002, 12, 205-210.
 
 
  McGaugh, J. L. Memory: A Century of Consolidation. Science, 2000, 287, 248-251.
 
Phone
  (949) 824-5401, 5250
 
Fax
  (949) 824-2952
 
Email
  jlmcgaug@uci.edu
 
Address
  University of California, Irvine
334 QRL
  Mail Code: 3800
  Irvine, CA 92697-3800
   
Grant:
  Drug Effects on Learning and Memory, National Institute of Mental Health
 
 
 
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