Exploration Related Synaptic Changes in Rat Dentate Gyrus

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Dr. Edward Green is studying the intricate electrophysiology of a brain structure, the hippocampus, which is known to be involved in learning and memory. His work should provide important information regarding the nature of the information processing which takes place in the dentate gyrus, a special region of the hippocampus, during exploratory behavior. Furthermore, this work is designed to evaluate functional alterations in the hippocampus associated with behavioral exploration. The proposed studies will utilize electrophysiological recordings of field potentials and single unit responses of granule cells in the dentate gyrus of freely moving rats. The specific goals of the work include: a) an evaluation of the interaction between the transient alterations in synaptic transmission related to behavioral state, and moderately persistent changes in synaptic efficacy that are associated with exploratory behavior; b) an assessment of the role of adrenal hormones in naturally occurring, synaptic efficacy changes in the dentate gyrus that accompany exploratory behavior; c) a determination of whether the locus coeruleus is necessary for producing environmentally-modulated alterations in granule cell excitability; d) an evaluation of whether naturally- occurring alterations in synaptic efficacy and electrically - induced long-term potentiation share a common synaptic mechanism; and e) a comparison of granule cell unit activity during specific behaviors in the home environment to unit activity during the same behaviors following exploration. Findings from these studies will provide us with detailed information about how a specific area of the brain processes information and retains that information for the purpose of memory storage.