Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

05:15
The (Spatial) Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
Published on: February 19, 2018
The 5-HT7 receptor is involved in allocentric spatial memory information processing
Gor Sarkisyan1, Peter B Hedlund
1Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Behavioural Brain Research
|May 19, 2009
Summary
The serotonin 5-HT(7) receptor is crucial for spatial memory. Mice lacking this receptor showed deficits in allocentric memory but retained egocentric memory, indicating a specific role for the 5-HT(7) receptor.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The hippocampus is vital for spatial memory formation.
- Serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission influences memory processing.
- The 5-HT(7) receptor is abundant in the hippocampus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the 5-HT(7) receptor in spatial memory.
- To assess spatial memory deficits in 5-HT(7) receptor-deficient mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 5-HT(7) receptor-deficient mice (5-HT(7)(-/-)) and wild-type littermates (5-HT(7)(+/+)).
- Employed a novel location/novel object test and the Barnes maze.
- Administered a selective 5-HT(7) receptor antagonist (SB-269970) to C57BL/6J mice.
- Assessed hippocampal neurogenesis using BrdU immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- 5-HT(7)(-/-) mice exhibited impaired allocentric spatial memory but intact egocentric spatial memory.
- Pharmacological blockade of the 5-HT(7) receptor mimicked spatial memory deficits.
- Mice lacking the 5-HT(7) receptor were less efficient in adapting to spatial changes.
- Hippocampal neurogenesis rates were comparable between genotypes, suggesting the receptor's role is independent of neurogenesis.
Conclusions:
- The 5-HT(7) receptor plays a critical role in hippocampus-dependent allocentric spatial memory.
- The receptor's function in spatial memory is not mediated by altering hippocampal neurogenesis.
- Targeting the 5-HT(7) receptor may offer therapeutic potential for cognitive disorders affecting spatial memory.
Related Concept Videos
Role 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...
Storage
A schema is a mental framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information. Schemata, formed from previous experiences, influence how we process new information: how we encode it, the inferences we make, and how we retrieve it. For instance, a schema for what a typical classroom looks like might include desks, a teacher's desk, a whiteboard, and students in such an environment. This expectation helps us quickly understand and navigate new classrooms without needing to analyze each...
Olfaction
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...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Association 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,...
System of Memory
Memory is categorized into three major systems: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). These systems differ in their capacity and the duration for which they can hold information. Sensory memory captures raw sensory input from the environment, holding it for just a few seconds or less. For example, on hearing a brief, loud sound, like a car horn honking, the sound seems to linger in the mind for a moment even after it stops. This is an instance of sensory memory...
