title: The medial entorhinal cortex is necessary for temporal organization of hippocampal neuronal activity.
abstract: The superficial layers of the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) are a major input to the hippocampus. The high proportion of spatially modulated cells, including grid cells and border cells, in these layers suggests that MEC inputs are critical for the representation of space in the hippocampus. However, selective manipulations of the MEC do not completely abolish hippocampal spatial firing. To determine whether other hippocampal firing characteristics depend more critically on MEC inputs, we recorded from hippocampal CA1 cells in rats with MEC lesions. Theta phase precession was substantially disrupted, even during periods of stable spatial firing. Our findings indicate that MEC inputs to the hippocampus are required for the temporal organization of hippocampal firing patterns and suggest that cognitive functions that depend on precise neuronal sequences in the hippocampal theta cycle are particularly dependent on the MEC.
authors.affiliation: 1] Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. [2] Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany.
authors.forename: Magdalene I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Schlesiger
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cannova
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Brittney L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Boublil
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jena B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hales
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mankin
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brandon
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jill K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Leutgeb
authors.affiliation: Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leibold
authors.affiliation: 1] Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. [2] Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leutgeb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018728:Entorhinal Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*