Journal
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 26, Issue 15, Pages 4071-4081Publisher
SOC NEUROSCIENCE
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3408-05.2006
Keywords
hippocampus; starmaze; NMDA receptors; sequential-egocentric strategy; allocentric strategy; episodic-like memory
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The hippocampus is considered to play a role in allocentric but not in egocentric spatial learning. How does this view fit with the emerging evidence that the hippocampus and possibly related cortical areas are necessary for episodic-like memory, i.e., in all situations in which events need to be spatially or sequentially organized? Are NMDA receptor-dependent mechanisms crucial for the acquisition of spatiotemporal relationships? To address this issue, we used knock-out (KO) mice lacking hippocampal CA1 NMDA receptors and presenting a reduction of these receptors in the deep cortical layers (NR1-KO mice). A new task (the starmaze) was designed, allowing us to distinguish allocentric and sequential-egocentric memories. NR1-KO mice were impaired in acquiring both types of memory. Our findings suggest that memories composed of multiple spatiotemporal events require intact NMDA receptors-dependent mechanisms in CA1 and possibly in the deep cortical layers.
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