Abstract / Description of output
We have determined the volume and location of hippocampal tissue required for normal acquisition of a spatial memory task. Ibotenic acid was used to make bilateral symmetric lesions of 20-100% of hippocampal volume. Even a small transverse block (minislab) of the hippocampus (down to 26% of the total) could support spatial learning in a water maze, provided it was at the septal (dorsal) pole of the hippocampus. Lesions of the septal pole, leaving 60% of the hippocampi intact, caused a learning deficit, although normal electrophysiological responses, synaptic plasticity, and preserved acetylcholinesterase staining argue for adequate function of the remaining tissue. Thus, with an otherwise normal brain, hippocampal-dependent spatial learning only requires a minislab of dorsal hippocampal tissue.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 9697-701 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) |
Volume | 92 |
Issue number | 21 |
Publication status | Published - 10 Oct 1995 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Acetylcholinesterase
- Animals
- Electric Stimulation
- Electrophysiology
- Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
- Hippocampus
- Histocytochemistry
- Ibotenic Acid
- Learning
- Maze Learning
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred Strains
- Spatial Behavior
- Swimming
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't