The Neuroanatomy of Spatial Memory: The Roles of the Hippocampus, Entorhinal Cortex, Amygdala and Fimbria-Fornix in a Spatial Discrimination on the Radial Maze - Softcover

Gaskin, Stephane

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3836496402 ISBN 13: 9783836496407

Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2008

Synopsis

The role of the dorsal hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, amygdala and fimbria fornix in spatial discrimination was investigated using temporary inactivation and lesioning methods. Spatial learning was tested in a conditioned cue preference (CCP) paradigm on an eight-arm radial maze. Only when given unreinforced pre-exposure trials did rats discriminate between two adjacent arms on the maze. Rats with muscimol induced inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus during unreinforced pre-exposure discriminated between the arms, whereas rats with hippocampal inactivation during training or testing did not. Inactivation of the entorhinal cortex resulted in impairment when done during any phase of the paradigm and during pre-exposure when combined with fimbria-fornix lesions. The effects of dorsal hippocampus inactivation were reversed in rats with combined amygdala lesions. These results revealed that spatial learning may rely on the interactions between the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, amygdala,and fimbria fornix and that the dogma that the hippocampus mediates all forms of spatial learning requires revision.

About this title

About the Author

Stephane Gaskin Ph.D, is a post-doctoral fellow at Concordia University in Montreal. He obtained his masters degree from Concordia with Dr. Dave Mumby and his Ph.D from McGill University with Dr.Norman White. He then pursued post-doctoral studies with Dr. Larry Squire and Dr. Robert Clark in San Diego, California.

Edition details

• Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3836496402
• ISBN 13: 9783836496407
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 132