title: Temporal associations for spatial events: the role of the dentate gyrus.
abstract: Previous research suggests that the dorsal dentate gyrus (DG) hippocampal subregion mediates spatial processing functions. However, a novel role for the DG in temporal processing for spatial information has begun to emerge based on the development of a computational model of neurogenesis. According to this model, adult born granule cells in the DG contribute to a temporal associative integration process for events presented closer in time. Currently, there is a paucity of behavioral evidence to support the temporal integration theory. Therefore, we developed a novel behavioral paradigm to investigate the role of the dDG in temporal integration for proximal and distal spatial events. Male Long-Evans rats were randomly assigned to a control group or to receive bilateral intracranial infusions of colchicine into the dDG. Following recovery from surgery, each rat was tested on a cued-recall of sequence paradigm. In this task, animals were allowed to explore identical objects placed in designated spatial locations on a cheeseboard maze across 2 days (e.g., Day 1: A and B; Day 2: C and D). One week later, animals were given a brief cue (A or C) followed by a preference test between spatial location B and D. Control animals had a significant preference for the spatial location previously paired with the cue (the temporal associate) whereas dDG lesioned animals failed to show a preference. These findings suggest that selective colchicine-induced dDG lesions are capable of disrupting the formation of temporal associations between spatial events presented close in time.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Andrea M
authors: AM
authors: Morris
authors: Brian J
authors: BJ
authors: Curtis
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Churchwell
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Maasberg
authors: Raymond P
authors: RP
authors: Kesner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003463:Cues; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011897:Random Allocation; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D013998:Time Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: Associative memory; Dentate gyrus; Hippocampus; Remote memory; Temporal associations; Temporal integration theory