title: The function of septo-hippocampal connections in spatially organized behaviour.
abstract: The role of septo-hippocampal connections in spatial behaviour is examined in lesion and stimulation experiments in rats. Destruction of septo-hippocampal connections produces a severe and enduring deficit in the ability to perform a spatial memory task. Furthermore, crossed unilateral lesions of the entorhinal area and fimbria-fornix produce the same deficit as bilateral lesions in either the entorhinal area or the fimbria-fornix, as predicted from a disconnection analysis of hippocampal lesions. Evidence also suggests that septo-hippocampal damage produces a greater deficit in spatial behaviours when a flexible response is required than when a consistent response is required, although this difference is a relative one rather than an absolute one. Finally, disruptive stimulation of the hippocampus while rats are performing a spatial memory task produces retrograde amnesia but not proactive interference. Taken together, these data indicate an important role of the septo-hippocampal system in spatial behaviour, and in the maintenance of spatial memories.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology