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Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice
Published on: June 4, 2020
Shift from hippocampal to neocortical centered retrieval network with consolidation
Atsuko Takashima1, Ingrid L C Nieuwenhuis, Ole Jensen
1Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. atsuko.takashima@donders.ru.nl
Summary
Memory consolidation shifts face-location recall from the hippocampus to neocortical networks. This process involves decreased hippocampal activity and increased neocortical connectivity over time.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- The standard model of system-level consolidation proposes that the hippocampus is crucial for recent memory retrieval.
- Over time, memories are thought to transfer to neocortical circuits, becoming independent of the hippocampus.
- This consolidation process may involve reorganization and loss of contextual details in neocortical networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying memory consolidation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- To test the hypothesis that hippocampal involvement decreases while neocortical activity and connectivity increase with memory consolidation.
- To examine changes in brain activity and functional connectivity during the retrieval of newly learned face-location associations over time.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure regional brain activity and functional connectivity.
- Participants learned face-location associations and were tested after short (15 min) and long (24 h) delays, including an overnight sleep period.
- Analysis focused on changes in hippocampal and neocortical activity and their inter-regional connectivity patterns.
Main Results:
- Posterior hippocampal activity during high-confidence memory retrieval decreased significantly after consolidation (24 h delay).
- Neocortical activity, particularly in association areas, increased with memory consolidation.
- Functional connectivity between the hippocampus and neocortical regions decreased, while cortico-cortical connectivity within neocortical areas increased.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide mechanistic support for a two-stage model of declarative memory consolidation.
- Initial memory encoding and retrieval involve a network including the hippocampus.
- With consolidation, memories are reorganized and stored within predominantly neocortical networks, independent of the hippocampus.
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