Response Properties of Lateral Entorhinal Cortex Neurons During Associative Learning

9614256奥托积累的证据表明，海马区在记忆过程中起着重要作用，但海马区对正常记忆的确切贡献，以及该区域受损如何损害记忆，目前还知之甚少。这项拟议的研究需要系统地研究海马区旁皮质在记忆过程中的作用。最初的一系列研究涉及发展联想记忆任务，该任务基于神经解剖学考虑，将积极参与并严重依赖海马区旁皮质区的神经回路。剩下的研究需要在学习这项任务的过程中对海马旁皮质区域内单个神经元的反应特性进行电生理学检查。预计这些细胞将在学习过程中改变其反应模式，从而对训练期间使用的刺激变得更敏感，反映出学习诱导的反应的“可塑性”。这些数据将提供有价值的洞察力，了解海马区旁皮质参与记忆过程的一般方式。

9614256 Otto Accumulating evidence suggest that the parahippocampal cortical region plays an important role in memory processes, the precise contribution of the parahippocampal cortical region to normal memory, and the way in which damage to this area impairs memory, is poorly understood. The proposed studies entail a systematic investigation of the role of the parahippocampal cortical region in memory processes. An initial series of studies involve the development of an associative memory task that based on neuroanatomical considerations, will actively engage and critically depend on neural circuitry within the parahippocampal cortical region. The remaining studies entail an electrophysiological examination of the response properties of individual neurons within the parahippocampal cortical region during learning of this task. It is expected that these cells will change their response patterns during learning such that they will become more responsive to stimuli used during training, reflecting a learning-induced "plasticity" of responsiveness. These data will provide valuable insight into the ways in which the parahippocampal cortical region participates in memory processes in general.