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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Published on: June 4, 2020

When is the hippocampus involved in recognition memory?

Gareth R I Barker¹, Elizabeth C Warburton

¹Medical Research Council Centre for Synaptic Plasticity, School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|July 22, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The hippocampus is essential for object-place and recency recognition memory, but not for simple object familiarity. This brain region interacts with the perirhinal and prefrontal cortices for these complex memory tasks.

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Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice

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Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Published on: June 4, 2020

Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice

Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice

Published on: August 30, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Memory Research

Background:

The hippocampus's precise role in recognition memory remains debated.
Recognition memory can rely on various cues: object familiarity, spatial location, or encounter timing.
Previous research has yielded conflicting findings regarding hippocampal involvement in different memory types.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hippocampus's function in recognition memory tasks utilizing distinct information types.
To determine if the hippocampus interacts with the perirhinal or prefrontal cortex for specific recognition memory processes.

Main Methods:

Rats with hippocampal, perirhinal, or prefrontal cortex lesions were tested on spontaneous object recognition tasks.
Tasks assessed novel object preference (familiarity), object-in-place memory (spatial), and temporal order memory (recency).
Experiment 2 involved combined hippocampal and contralateral perirhinal or prefrontal cortex lesions.

Main Results:

Hippocampal lesions impaired object location, object-in-place, and recency memory, but not novel object preference.
Object-in-place and recency recognition memory performance required a functional interaction between the hippocampus and either the perirhinal or medial prefrontal cortex.
The hippocampus is critical for memory involving specific object-place associations or temporal/recency information.

Conclusions:

The hippocampus is not necessary for familiarity-based recognition memory.
The hippocampus plays a crucial role in recognition memory when spatial context or temporal order is involved.
Functional interactions between the hippocampus and cortical regions (perirhinal, medial prefrontal) are vital for complex recognition memory.