Categorization in the monkey hippocampus: A possible mechanism for encoding information into memory
AUTOR(ES)
Hampson, Robert E.
FONTE
National Academy of Sciences
RESUMO
The mammalian hippocampus processes sensory information into memory. The neurobiological basis of this representation, as well as the type of information that is encoded, is central to understanding how memories are formed. Normally, there is an infinite amount of information that could be encoded for any given stimulus. Thus, the question arises as to how the hippocampus selects and encodes features of a given stimulus. Here, we show that neurons in the hippocampus of the monkey appear to categorize types of visual stimuli presented in a delayed-match-to-sample memory task. By extracting unique combinations of features, these category cells are able to encode aspects of behaviorally important images instead of encoding all visual details. The subject is then able to rapidly select an appropriate response to that stimulus when distracting stimuli are presented simultaneously, thereby facilitating performance. Moreover, across animals, this specific type of encoding differed considerably. Just as in humans, different monkeys attended to and selected different aspects of the same stimulus image, most likely reflecting different histories, strategies, and expectations residing within individual hippocampal networks.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=365764Documentos Relacionados
- Human hippocampus associates information in memory
- ‘Leaky’ neurons in the epileptic hippocampus: should we get excited?
- Impulse conduction in CA1 apical dendrites of rabbit hippocampus: its possible implication in normal and abnormal activities.
- A cognitive map for object memory in the hippocampus
- Adenosine increases synaptic facilitation in the in vitro rat hippocampus: evidence for a presynaptic site of action.