ELEONORA RICCARDI

PhD Graduate

PhD program:: XXXVI



Thesis title: Memory mosaics: Navigating from hypermemory to memory disfunction, unrevealing sex-differences and brain circuits

Memory processes, intricate and multifaceted, constitute a cornerstone of cognitive function, encompassing various domains such as fear memory and episodic memory. Fear memory, a critical survival mechanism, is intricately woven into the neural fabric, involving the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of threatening stimuli. Episodic memory, on the other hand, entails the recollection of personal experiences, embedding contextual details within the temporal framework of one's life. Despite their distinct manifestations, fear memory and episodic memory converge on shared neural substrates, including the amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), that orchestrate the intricate dance of memory formation and retrieval. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) represent poignant examples of memory dysfunction, albeit through divergent trajectories. PTSD, characterized by intrusive recollections and hyperarousal in response to traumatic events, underscores the dysregulation of fear memory processes. In contrast, AD unfolds as a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, marked by the insidious erosion of episodic memory and cognitive decline. Despite their disparate clinical presentations, both PTSD and AD share commonalities in terms of the challenges encountered in preclinical research. The lack of suitable animal models that faithfully recapitulate the complexities of these human conditions hampers our understanding of their underlying pathophysiology and impedes the development of effective therapeutic interventions. Despite extensive efforts to find effective treatments, for example exploring the potential of psychostimulants in preclinical and clinical studies, the elusive nature of PTSD underscores the critical need for a deeper understanding of its neurobiological underpinnings. This imperative is further emphasized by the challenges inherent in navigating the intricate landscape of PTSD research, particularly in replicating the multifaceted human pathology in preclinical models. Moreover, the disproportionate representation of males in preclinical studies overlooks essential insights into sex differences in PTSD susceptibility, urging the adoption of a more inclusive research paradigm. In this scenario, a novel perspective in memory research is fundamental and the recent discovery of individuals with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) could offer new insights, since much of the focus in memory research has been on investigating normal or impaired memory capabilities. These individuals exhibit exceptional recall abilities, providing valuable discoveries into the neurobiological substrates of memory. This exploration not only enriches our understanding of memory processes but also holds promise for shedding light on memory-related disorders such as AD. In conclusion, memory stands as a cornerstone of human experience, shaping our past, present, and future. Yet, in the face of neurological and psychiatric disorders, memory can become a double-edged sword, both haunting and elusive. By bridging the gap between basic research and clinical practice, we can strive towards a deeper understanding of memory disorders and pave the way for more effective interventions that honor the complexity of human cognition.

Research products

11573/1710028 - 2024 - Behavioral and molecular profiling of PTSD-like susceptible and resilient lines of rats.
Mancini, Giulia Federica; Morena, Maria; Di Cesare, Benedetta; Riccardi, Eleonora; Pisaneschi, Arianna; Meijer, Onno; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: Global Stress Network – Stress and Resilience: Exploring New Horizons and in Science and Applications Meeting (Lausanne (Switzerland))
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1702653 - 2024 - Evaluating vulnerability and resilience for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development in rats: behavioral and transcriptomic insights.
Mancini, Giulia Federica; Morena, Maria; Di Cesare, Benedetta; Riccardi, Eleonora; Virgilio, Anna; Meijer, Onno; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: Steroids and Nervous System (SNS) 12th International Meeting (Torino (Italia))
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1691765 - 2023 - Optogenetic manipulation of the medial prefrontal cortex – hippocampal pathway in an animal model of prodromic Alzheimer disease
Riccardi, Eleonora; Beatrice Monaco, Maria; Lanni, Ilenia; Santangelo, Valerio; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: Convegno Monotematico - Società Italiana di Farmacologia "Innovation in mental illness: from mechanisms to drug treatment and patient response" (Brescia, Italia)
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1691764 - 2023 - Behavioral correlates of fear memory in an animal model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Ultrasonic vocalizations and sex differences.
Riccardi, Eleonora; Beatrice Monaco, Maria; Morena, Maria; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: 9th Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Conference 2023 (Cartagine, Tunisia)
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1659924 - 2022 - Behavioral and molecular characterization of PTSD-like susceptible and resilient lines of rats
Morena, Maria; Mancini, Giulia Federica; Blasi, Eleonora; Riccardi, Eleonora; Pisaneschi, Arianna; Meijer, Onno; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: Society for Neuroscience (SfN) 2022 (San Diego, California (USA))
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1627734 - 2022 - Behavioral correlates of fear memory in a rat model for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Ultrasonic vocalizations and sex differences
Riccardi, Eleonora; Averna, Elisa; Morena, Maria; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: The 3rd Munich Winter Conference on Stress (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany)
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1659941 - 2022 - Behavioral correlates of fear memory in a rat model for post-traumatic stress disorder: ultrasonic vocalizations and sex differences
Riccardi, Eleonora; Turchetti, Lucilla; Morena, Maria; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: SINS National Meeting of PhD Students in Neuroscience (Brescia)
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1659939 - 2022 - Ultrasonic vocalizations as behavioral correlates of fear memory dynamics in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder
Riccardi, Eleonora; Virgilio, Anna; Morena, Maria; Campolongo, Patrizia - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
paper: PHARMADVANCES (Milano (Italy): Edra) pp. - - issn: - wos: (0) - scopus: (0)
conference: 41° Congresso Nazionale della SIF (Roma)
book: Abstract book - ()

11573/1470681 - 2021 - Sex-divergent long-term effects of single prolonged stress in adult rats
Mancini, Giulia Federica; Marchetta, Enrico; Riccardi, Eleonora; Trezza, Viviana; Morena, Maria; Campolongo, Patrizia - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH (Amsterdam; London; New York NY; Tokyo: Elsevier) pp. - - issn: 0166-4328 - wos: WOS:000608605600007 (4) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85098185300 (16)

11573/1602903 - 2021 - Sex-dependent effects of the drugs of abuse amphetamine and the smart drug 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone on fear memory generalization in rats
Riccardi, Eleonora; Blasi, Eleonora; Zwergel, Clemens; Mai, Antonello; Morena, Maria; Campolongo, Patrizia - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: NEUROSCIENCE (Oxford: Elsevier Ltd. Oxford; New York: Pergamon Press) pp. - - issn: 0306-4522 - wos: WOS:000888591600010 (2) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85122538831 (2)

© Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" - Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma