Reversible inactivation of the hippocampal formation in food-storing black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus).
The role of the hippocampal formation (HF) in memory processing was assessed in food-storing black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) by reversibly inactivating the HF during different memory tests. The memory tests required birds to remember a location based on spatial cues only, or based on a combination of both spatial and distinct visual cues. Inactivation of the HF impaired short-term spatial memory, but not visual-spatial memory. Inactivation of the HF impaired the retrieval of short-term (15 min) spatial memories, but not long-term (3-h) spatial memories. The pattern of deficits produced by inactivation of the HF in chickadees suggests a possible function of the hippocampal specialization of food-storing birds, as well as extends the notion of functional homology between the avian and mammalian HF.
Shiflett
Michael W
MW
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. mws14@cornell.edu
Smulders
Tom V
TV
Benedict
Lauryn
L
DeVoogd
Timothy J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D003463:Cues; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020308:Songbirds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008012:Lidocaine