Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
10:59
Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
Lesions of the dorsal hippocampus or parietal cortex differentially affect spatial information processing
Jason L Rogers1, Raymond P Kesner
1Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Behavioral Neuroscience
|August 9, 2006
Summary
The dorsal hippocampus (dHip) and parietal cortex (PC) play distinct roles in spatial memory. The dHip is crucial for learning allocentric space, while the PC is vital for egocentric space and long-term retention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Spatial Navigation
Background:
- The dorsal hippocampus (dHip) and parietal cortex (PC) are implicated in spatial processing.
- Understanding their distinct roles in allocentric and egocentric spatial memory is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of the dHip and PC in acquiring and retaining allocentric and egocentric spatial information.
- To differentiate the contributions of these brain regions during different phases of spatial memory.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two modified Hebb-Williams mazes to assess spatial learning and memory.
- Induced bilateral lesions to the dHip or PC before (acquisition) or after (retention) maze testing.
Main Results:
- dHip lesions impaired allocentric maze acquisition.
- PC lesions impaired egocentric maze acquisition.
- PC lesions caused significant retention deficits, while dHip lesions caused transient impairments.
Conclusions:
- The dHip and PC process spatial information in parallel during acquisition.
- Long-term spatial memory retention primarily relies on the PC, with the dHip involved in retrieval/access.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:25Olfaction
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...