Developmental studies of the hippocampus and hippocampal-dependent behaviors: Insights from interdisciplinary studies and tips for new investigators

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews Vol. 43; pp. 183 - 190
• Main Authors: ALBANI, Sarah H, MCHAIL, Daniel G, DUMAS, Theodore C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hippocampus - physiology; Humans; Interdisciplinary Studies; Memory, Episodic; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Recognition (Psychology) - physiology; Spatial Behavior - physiology; Learning and memory; Rat; Memory; Central nervous system; Review; Postnatal development; Encephalon; Learning; Acquisition process; Behavioral analysis; Insight; Novelty; Juvenile; Behavioral testing; Rodentia; Spatial navigation; Experimental study; AMPAR; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Place field; Animal; Environment; NMDAR; Interdisciplinary field; Hippocampus; Y-maze
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.04.009

The hippocampus is not fully developed at birth and, with respect to spatial cognition, only begins to show signs of adult-like function at three postnatal weeks in rodents. Studying the developmental period spanning roughly two to four weeks of age permits an understanding of the neural framework necessary for the emergence of spatial navigation and, quite possibly, human episodic memory. However, due to developmental factors, behavior data collection and interpretation can be severely compromised if inappropriate designs are applied. As such, we propose methodological considerations for the behavioral assessment of hippocampal function in developing rats that take into account animal size, growth rate, and sensory and motor ability. We further summarize recent key interdisciplinary studies that are beginning to unravel the molecular machinery and physiological alterations responsible for hippocampal maturation. In general, hippocampal development is a protracted process during which unique contributions to spatial cognition and complex recognition memory come "on line" at different postnatal ages creating a unique situation for elucidating the neural bases of specific components of higher cognitive abilities.