Hippocampal spatial representations require vestibular input
The hippocampal formation is essential for forming declarative representations of the relationships among multiple stimuli. The rodent hippocampal formation, including the entorhinal cortex and subicular complex, is critical for spatial memory. Two classes of hippocampal neurons fire in relation to...
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Published in | Hippocampus Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 291 - 303 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
New York
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
2002
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The hippocampal formation is essential for forming declarative representations of the relationships among multiple stimuli. The rodent hippocampal formation, including the entorhinal cortex and subicular complex, is critical for spatial memory. Two classes of hippocampal neurons fire in relation to spatial features. Place cells collectively map spatial locations, with each cell firing only when the animal occupies that cell's “place field,” a particular subregion of the larger environment. Head direction (HD) cells encode directional heading, with each HD cell firing when the rat's head is oriented in that cell's particular “preferred firing direction.” Both landmarks and internal cues (e.g., vestibular, motor efference copy) influence place and HD cell activity. However, as is the case for navigation, landmarks are believed to exert greater influence over place and HD cell activity. Here we show that temporary inactivation of the vestibular system led to the disruption of location‐specific firing in hippocampal place cells and direction‐specific discharge of postsubicular HD cells, without altering motor function. Place and HD cell activity recovered over a time course similar to that of the restoration of vestibular function. These results indicate that vestibular signals provide an important influence over the expression of hippocampal spatial representations, and may explain the navigational deficits of humans with vestibular dysfunction. Hippocampus 2002;12:291–303. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. |
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Bibliography: | istex:F1F7FDE7CCEB6CB91C6286EA3FB4CB90F8D08EDD ark:/67375/WNG-48HJ55BZ-8 ArticleID:HIPO1112 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders - No. DC00236 National Institute of Mental Health - No. MH48924; No. MH01286 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1050-9631 1098-1063 |
DOI: | 10.1002/hipo.1112 |