Professor Jonathan Lee MA PhD

School of Psychology
Professor of Memory Neuroscience

Contact details

Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 2607
Email: j.l.c.lee@bham.ac.uk

Address: School of Psychology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Professor Jonathan Lee is a behavioural neuroscientist primarily interested in the mechanisms and functions of memory processes. In particular, he currently studies the phenomenon of memory reconsolidation, which may have applications in the understanding of and treatment of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and drug addiction.

Qualifications

MA (Cantab)
PhD (Cantab)

Biography

Professor Jonathan Lee spent all of his formative years at the University of Cambridge. After completing his undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences (Neuroscience), he undertook a PhD in the Department of Experimental Psychology under the supervision of Professor Barry Everitt. He continued as a post-doc in Prof Everitt's lab, before becoming a Lecturer in the Department of Experimental Psychology prior to his move to Birmingham in 2008.

Postgraduate supervision

If you are interested in working with Joathan, please contact him with your research interests.

Research

Jonathan's research focusses on the basic mechanisms of learning and memory. These range from the neural circuits that support memory acquisition and persistence, to the cellular mechanisms that operate within those circuits. In particular, he is interested in the different phases that occur in the lifetime of a memory: initial acquisition, subsequent memory stabilisation, retrieval/expression. Each of these processes contributes to the long-term persistence of memories. Recently, particular attention has been paid to the phenomenon of memory reconsolidation, whereby a memory may be modified after its retrieval, perhaps to maintain its adaptive relevance. Impairing the retrieval-induced reconsolidation phase results in severe amnesia for that, often old, memory.

The study of memory reconsolidation is a major focus of his research. Not only might it prove to be the mechanism underlying so-called 'false memories', but it has also been highlighted as a potential target in the treatment of some psychiatric disorders. Conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and drug addiction depend to a large extent upon the formation of extremely powerful and persistent emotional memories. It may be possible, therefore, to reduce the impact of these memories by blocking their reconsolidation. By using preclinical models of emotional learning and memory, we can begin to explore the clinical benefits of such an approach.

Publications

Highlight publications

Lee, J, Nader, K & Schiller, D 2017, 'An update on memory reconsolidation updating', Trends in Cognitive Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2017.04.006

Tay, KR, Flavell, C, de Freitas Cassini, L, Wimber, M & Lee, J 2019, 'Postretrieval relearning strengthens hippocampal memories via destabilization and reconsolidation', The Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 39, no. 6, pp. 1109-1118. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2618-18.2018

Flavell, C & Lee, J 2019, 'Dopaminergic D1 receptor signalling is necessary, but not sufficient for cued fear memory destabilisation', Psychopharmacology, vol. 236, no. 12, pp. 3667-3676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-019-05338-5

Exton-McGuinness, M, Drame, ML, Flavell, C & Lee, J 2019, 'On the resistance to relapse to cocaine seeking following impairment of instrumental cocaine memory reconsolidation', Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, vol. 13, 242, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00242

Espinelli Amorim, F, Chapot, R, Moulin, T, Lee, J & Amaral, O 2021, 'Memory destabilization during reconsolidation – a consequence of homeostatic plasticity?', Learning & memory, vol. 28, no. 10, pp. 371-389. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.053418.121

Recent publications

Article

Tay, KR, Bolt, F, Wong, HT, Vasileva, S & Lee, J 2023, 'Reminder-dependent alterations in long-term declarative memory expression', Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, vol. 206, 107858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107858

Cheng, C, Exton-McGuinness, M & Lee, J 2022, 'Procedures between training and reactivation influence the destabilization of instrumental sucrose memory', Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, vol. 16, 953629. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.953629

Drame, ML, Balaet, M & Lee, J 2020, 'Memory reconsolidation impairments in sign-tracking to an audiovisual compound stimulus', Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 393, 112774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112774

Flavell, C, Gascoyne, R & Lee, J 2020, 'Post-reactivation mifepristone impairs generalisation of strongly- conditioned contextual fear memories', Learning & memory.

Flavell, CR, Gascoyne, RM & Lee, JLC 2020, 'Postreactivation mifepristone impairs generalization of strongly conditioned contextual fear memories', Learning and Memory, vol. 27, no. 12, pp. 483-487. https://doi.org/10.1101/LM.052167.120

Lee, JLC, Amorim, FE, Cassini, LF & Amaral, OB 2019, 'Different temporal windows for CB1 receptor involvement in contextual fear memory destabilisation in the amygdala and hippocampus', PLoS ONE, vol. 14, no. 1, e0205781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205781

Lee, J, Bertoglio, L, Guimaraes, F & Stevenson, CW 2017, 'Cannabidiol regulation of emotion and emotional memory processing: relevance for treating anxiety-related and substance abuse disorders', British Journal of Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.13724

de Freitas Cassini, L, Flavell, C, Amaral, O & Lee, J 2017, 'On the transition from reconsolidation to extinction of contextual fear memories', Learning & memory, vol. 24, pp. 392-399. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.045724.117

Song, C, Stevenson, CW, Guimaraes, F & Lee, J 2016, 'Bidirectional effects of cannabidiol on contextual fear memory extinction', Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 7, 493. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2016.00493

Jurkus, R, Day, H, Guimaraes, F, Lee, J, Bertoglio, L & Stevenson, CW 2016, 'Cannabidiol regulation of learned fear: implications for treating anxiety-related disorders', Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 7, pp. 454. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2016.00454/full

Heath, FC, Jurkus, R, Bast, T, Pezze, MA, Lee, JLC, Voigt, JP & Stevenson, CW 2015, 'Dopamine D1-like receptor signalling in the hippocampus and amygdala modulates the acquisition of contextual fear conditioning', Psychopharmacology, vol. 232, no. 14, pp. 2619-2629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-015-3897-y

Exton-McGuinness, M & Lee, J 2015, 'Reduction in responding for sucrose and cocaine reinforcement by disruption of memory reconsolidation', eNeuro, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0009-15.2015

Lee, JLC & Flavell, CR 2014, 'Inhibition and enhancement of contextual fear memory destabilization', Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, vol. 8, 144. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00144

Comment/debate

Tay, KR, Bolt, F, Wong, HT, Vasileva, S & Lee, J 2024, 'Corrigendum to “Reminder-dependent alterations in long-term declarative memory expression” [Neurobiol. Learn. Mem. 206 (2023) 107858]', Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, vol. 208, 107889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107889

Letter

Lima, RH, Cheng, C & Lee, JLC 2026, 'Ventral Hippocampus and NAc Core, but not Shell activity is required for well-learned instrumental memory destabilisation', Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 496, 115868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115868

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