Epigenetic Mechanisms of Learning and Memory

Abstract Epigenetic modifications were initially recognized as crucial regulators of cell differentiation and development, but research over the last 15 years has identified a novel and dynamic role for epigenetics in regulating memory formation and maintenance. These discoveries sparked the development of neuroepigenetics as a novel field that studies how the brain exploits epigenetic machinery to regulate behavioral and neural plasticity. In this chapter, we discuss recent evidence that epigenetic mechanisms regulate both the early stages of memory formation and the ongoing process of memory maintenance. We focus on the molecular machinery that deals with the deposition and removal of epigenetic marks, and how these marks can be manipulated to regulate memory formation. We also discuss the emerging field of epitranscriptomics (RNA epigenetics), and we highlight the importance of next-generation sequencing techniques in advancing our understanding of both fields.