Arc protein expression after unilateral intracranial self-stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle is upregulated in specific nuclei of memory-related areas.

Our results expand our knowledge of which specific memory related areas MFB-ICSS activates and, motivates the definition of three functionally separate groups according to their Arc-related synaptic plasticity response: (1) the hippocampus and dorsolateral thalamic area, (2) the central medial thalamic area and (3) the lateral amygdala.