title: The hippocampal-VTA loop: controlling the entry of information into long-term memory.
abstract: In this article we develop the concept that the hippocampus and the midbrain dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) form a functional loop. Activation of the loop begins when the hippocampus detects newly arrived information that is not already stored in its long-term memory. The resulting novelty signal is conveyed through the subiculum, accumbens, and ventral pallidum to the VTA where it contributes (along with salience and goal information) to the novelty-dependent firing of these cells. In the upward arm of the loop, dopamine (DA) is released within the hippocampus; this produces an enhancement of LTP and learning. These findings support a model whereby the hippocampal-VTA loop regulates the entry of information into long-term memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, USA. lisman@brandeis.edu
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lisman
authors.forename: Anthony A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Grace
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000502:physiology*