title: Olfactory learning and memory impairments following lesions to the hippocampus and perirhinal-entorhinal cortex.
abstract: The role of the hippocampus and perirhinal-entorhinal cortex was examined in an olfactory discrimination paradigm. Small neurotoxic lesions of the hippocampus (21% tissue damage) yielded relatively unimpaired olfactory retention across brief (30 s), intermediate (approximately 5 min), and 24-hr delays, whereas impairments were noted at 5-day retention intervals. Larger hippocampal lesions (63% tissue damage) spared memory at intermediate delays, with no impact at 8-day retention intervals. Aspiration lesions directed at the perirhinal-entorhinal cortex produced a variable performance pattern, with impairments noted at intermediate, 24-hr, and 5-day delays. Results suggest the hippocampus is not specifically involved in retaining olfactory information, with additional consideration given to the relationship between lesion size and memory impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Akron, Ohio 44325-4301, USA. kpk@uakron.edu
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kaut
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bunsey
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Riccio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D018728:Entorhinal Cortex / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell