title: Hippocampal map realignment and spatial learning.
abstract: The spatial selectivity of hippocampal neurons suggests that they contribute to an internal representation of current location. The activity of hippocampal pyramidal cells was recorded while adult (10-13 months old) and aged (24-28 months old) rats performed a task in which two spatial reference frames were put in conflict. Rats attempted to find an unmarked goal whose position was fixed relative to only one of the two reference frames. The ability of a rat's hippocampus to adjust to the conflicting information and use the 'correct' position estimate (hippocampal map 'realignment') was correlated with the rat's ability to find the hidden goal. In addition, aged rats were impaired relative to adult rats in both goal-finding accuracy and map realignment. Thus, changes in the effectiveness with which the hippocampal spatial representation is updated on the basis of external cues may contribute to both within-age-group spatial learning variability and age-related spatial learning deficits.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neural Systems, Memory, and Aging, 384 Life Sciences North, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Ephron S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Redish
authors.forename: Bruce L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*