The task-specific intergenerational transmission of paternal cognitive experiences on male offspring memory

Following previous studies on the intergenerational transmission of cognitive abilities, the present research aimed to answer whether parental training on a specific cognitive task may facilitate the learning process of other cognitive tasks in the next generation. Namely, to investigate whether in addition to improving spatial memory acquisition in male offspring, paternal spatial training can also lead to improvements in working memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory, we tested in Morris Water Maze (MWM) or Y-maze and Novel Object Recognition (NOR) tests groups of male offspring of fathers spatially trained (or not spatially trained) in the MWM. Then, we analyzed the immunocontent levels of BDNF, p-ERK1/2, SYT1, and acetylated H3K14 in the hippocampus of the offspring performing MWM, or Y-maze and NOR tests. Paternal MWM training facilitated learning and memory processes of the male offspring in the MWM task, and in parallel, increased hippocampal immunocontent levels of BDNF, SYT1, p-ERK1/2, and also H3K14 acetylation. On the other hand, the paternal MWM training did not affect the processes of working memory, short-term, and long-term memory of the male offspring, and did not change the hippocampal immunocontent levels of BDNF, SYT1, p-ERK1/2, and H3K14 acetylation level after cognitive training. Overall, the present results show that the intergenerational effects of paternal training in cognitive tasks are task-specific, not causing improvements in cognitive tasks other than those in which the fathers had been trained.