Decoding signal processing in thalamo-hippocampal circuitry: implications for theories of memory and spatial processing

被引:16
|
作者
Tsanov, Marian [1 ,2 ]
O'Mara, Shane M. [1 ,2 ]
机构
[1] Trinity Coll Dublin, Trinity Coll Inst Neurosci, Dublin, Ireland
[2] Trinity Coll Dublin, Sch Psychol, Dublin, Ireland
基金
英国惠康基金; 爱尔兰科学基金会;
关键词
Hippocampus; Anterior thalamus; Head direction cells; Theta rhythm; Place cells; HEAD-DIRECTION CELLS; FREELY-MOVING RATS; SENSORIMOTOR CORTEX INVITRO; DORSAL TEGMENTAL NUCLEUS; PELLET-CHASING TASK; PEAK FIRING RATES; ANTERIOR THALAMUS; PLACE CELLS; PATH-INTEGRATION; THETA-RHYTHM;
D O I
10.1016/j.brainres.2014.12.003
中图分类号
Q189 [神经科学];
学科分类号
071006 ;
摘要
A major tool in understanding how information is processed in the brain is the analysis of neuronal output at each hierarchical level through which neurophysiological signals are propagated. Since the experimental brain operation performed on Henry Gustav Molaison (known as patient H.M.) in 1953, the hippocampal formation has gained special attention, resulting in a very large number of studies investigating signals processed by the hippocampal formation. One of the main information streams to the hippocampal formation, vital for episodic memory formation, arises from thalamo-hippocampal projections, as there is extensive connectivity between these structures. This connectivity is sometimes overlooked by theories of memory formation by the brain, in favour of theories with a strong cortico-hippocampal flavour. In this review, we attempt to address some of the complexity of the signals processed within the thalamo-hippocampal circuitry. To understand the signals encoded by the anterior thalamic nuclei in particular, we review key findings from electrophysiological, anatomical, behavioural and computational studies. We include recent findings elucidating the integration of different signal modalities by single thalamic neurons; we focus in particular on the propagation of two prominent signals: head directionality and theta rhythm. We conclude that thalamo-hippocampal processing provides a centrally important, substantive, and dynamic input modulating and moderating hippocampal spatial and mnemonic processing. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Brain and Memory. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
引用
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页码:368 / 379
页数:12
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