Figure 1

Assessment of efficiency of consolidation of memory using a contextual fear conditioning protocol. Mice were frightened by an aversive stimulus, in this case tone and electrical foot shock stimulus, to acquire fear memory (acquisition). One day prior to surgery (n =36) or mechanical ventilation (MV; n =36), animals were trained for fear conditioning. At 6 hours, 1 day and 3 days after those treatments, memory was reassessed by measuring the period of time during which the animal became involuntarily immobile when reintroduced to the aversive context.