Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 4, 2026
14:27
Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording
Published on: August 11, 2019
13.6K
Lateral entorhinal cortex supports behaviorally-induced hippocampal ensemble stability for reliable memory recall
Maya D Hopkins1,2, Pauline Rahal1,2, Vincent Robert1
1Institute for Translational Neuroscience, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Higher demand navigational tasks enhance the stability of hippocampal place cells, crucial for spatial memory. The lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) supports this stability by providing contextual information.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Hippocampal pyramidal neurons act as place cells, forming spatial maps essential for navigation and episodic memory.
- Place cell stability is compromised in low-demand tasks or environments lacking sensory cues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how task demand influences hippocampal place cell stability.
- To explore the role of the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) in maintaining place cell stability and contextual memory.
Main Methods:
- Chronic two-photon calcium imaging in mice performing low-demand (random foraging) versus high-demand (odor-context navigation) tasks.
- Chemogenetic suppression of excitatory neurons in the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) during task recall.
Main Results:
- High-demand odor-context navigation stabilized place cell representations compared to random foraging.
- LEC suppression impaired behavioral performance and neural representations during recall, reducing context discrimination.
- LEC silencing led to less stable population activity and increased similarity between trial types.
Conclusions:
- Increasing task demand enhances the stability of hippocampal CA1 place cell representations.
- The lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) plays a crucial role in supporting CA1 stability and contextual memory through its sensory inputs.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
2.0K
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...
2.0K
01:25Olfaction
49.9K
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...
49.9K
01:15Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
9.1K
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
9.1K
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.5K
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...
1.5K
01:18Long-Term Memory
865
Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
865
01:24Working Memory
1.2K
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
1.2K