Theories of Hippocampal Function

Richard, Morris

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195100273.003.0013

The Hippocampus Book

Per Andersen (ed.) et al.

https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195100273.001.0001

Published online:

01 May 2009

Published in print:

14 December 2006

Online ISBN:

9780199864133

Print ISBN:

9780195100273

- Copyright Page
  - Notes
  - Notes
- Dedication
  - Notes
  - Notes
- Preface
  - Notes
  - Notes
- Acknowledgments
  - Notes
  - Notes
- Contributors
  - Notes
  - Notes
1 The Hippocampal Formation
- Notes
- Notes
2 Historical Perspective: Proposed Functions, Biological Characteristics, and Neurobiological Models of the Hippocampus
- Notes
- Notes
3 Hippocampal Neuroanatomy
- Notes
- Notes
4 Morphological Development of the Hippocampus
- Notes
- Notes
5 Structural and Functional Properties of Hippocampal Neurons
- Notes
- Notes
6 Synaptic Function
- Notes
- Notes
7 Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Function in the Hippocampus: Neurotransmitter Exocytosis and Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Transmission
- Notes
- Notes
8 Local Circuits
- Notes
- Notes
9 Structural Plasticity
- Notes
- Notes
10 Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus
- Notes
- Notes
11 Hippocampal Neurophysiology in the Behaving Animal
- Notes
- Notes
12 Functional Role of the Human Hippocampus
- Notes
- Notes
- 13.1 Overview 13.1 Overview
- 13.2 Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Interventional Techniques, and the Hippocampus 13.2 Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Interventional Techniques, and the Hippocampus
  - 13.2.1 Value of Interventional Studies to Identify Function 13.2.1 Value of Interventional Studies to Identify Function
  - 13.2.2 Lesions, Functional Hypotheses, and Behavioral Tasks 13.2.2 Lesions, Functional Hypotheses, and Behavioral Tasks
    - Dissociations, Double Dissociations, and Hypotheses Dissociations, Double Dissociations, and Hypotheses
    - Learning, Performance, and Hippocampus-dependent Learning and Memory Tasks Learning, Performance, and Hippocampus-dependent Learning and Memory Tasks
    - What, How, and When: Different Aspects of Hippocampus-dependent Memory What, How, and When: Different Aspects of Hippocampus-dependent Memory
    - Cerebral Localization or Dissociation Between Mental Processes? Cerebral Localization or Dissociation Between Mental Processes?
  - 13.2.3 Contemporary Lesion Techniques: Pharmacological and Genetic Interventions 13.2.3 Contemporary Lesion Techniques: Pharmacological and Genetic Interventions
    - Neurotoxic Lesions Neurotoxic Lesions
    - Pharmacological and Genetic Manipulations Pharmacological and Genetic Manipulations
  - 13.2.4 Biological Continuity of Hippocampal Function 13.2.4 Biological Continuity of Hippocampal Function
    - Virtues of a Comparative Approach Virtues of a Comparative Approach
    - Limitations in the Use of Laboratory Animals to Investigate Brain Function Limitations in the Use of Laboratory Animals to Investigate Brain Function
- 13.3 Declarative Memory Theory 13.3 Declarative Memory Theory
  - 13.3.1 Outline of the Theory 13.3.1 Outline of the Theory
  - 13.3.2 Development of a Primate Model of Amnesia 13.3.2 Development of a Primate Model of Amnesia
    - Development of New Tasks for Monkeys to Parallel the Types of Memory Lost in Amnesia Development of New Tasks for Monkeys to Parallel the Types of Memory Lost in Amnesia
    - Emergence of Delayed Nonmatching to Sample as the Benchmark Test of Recognition Memory in Primates Emergence of Delayed Nonmatching to Sample as the Benchmark Test of Recognition Memory in Primates
    - Other Tasks Used in a Comprehensive Test Battery to Explore Declarative Memory in Primates Other Tasks Used in a Comprehensive Test Battery to Explore Declarative Memory in Primates
    - Adequacy of These Tasks as Models of Declarative Memory Adequacy of These Tasks as Models of Declarative Memory
  - 13.3.3 Domains of Preserved Learning Following Medial Temporal Lobe Lesions in Primates 13.3.3 Domains of Preserved Learning Following Medial Temporal Lobe Lesions in Primates
  - 13.3.4 Selective Lesions of Distinct Components of the Medial-temporal Lobe Reveal Heterogeneity of Function 13.3.4 Selective Lesions of Distinct Components of the Medial-temporal Lobe Reveal Heterogeneity of Function
    - Comparison of Conflicting Studies Reveals Subtle Differences in Lesion Size and Methodology Comparison of Conflicting Studies Reveals Subtle Differences in Lesion Size and Methodology
  - 13.3.5 Remote Memory, Retrograde Amnesia, and the Time Course of Memory Consolidation in Primates 13.3.5 Remote Memory, Retrograde Amnesia, and the Time Course of Memory Consolidation in Primates
  - 13.3.6 Critique 13.3.6 Critique
    - What Is the Status of the Memory Taxonomy? What Is the Status of the Memory Taxonomy?
    - Inconsistencies Between the Animal Lesion Data and the Declarative Memory Theory Inconsistencies Between the Animal Lesion Data and the Declarative Memory Theory
    - Certain Comparative Problems When Asserting that Declarative Memory Must Be Conscious Certain Comparative Problems When Asserting that Declarative Memory Must Be Conscious
    - Nondeclarative Memory: Are Spared Learning Abilities Nonpropositional or Learned Tasks That Can Be Performed Without Awareness? Nondeclarative Memory: Are Spared Learning Abilities Nonpropositional or Learned Tasks That Can Be Performed Without Awareness?
    - Are Fact-Memory and Event-Memory Processed by a Common Brain System? Are Fact-Memory and Event-Memory Processed by a Common Brain System?
- 13.4 Hippocampus and Space: Cognitive Map Theory of Hippocampal Function 13.4 Hippocampus and Space: Cognitive Map Theory of Hippocampal Function
  - 13.4.1 Outline of the Theory 13.4.1 Outline of the Theory
  - 13.4.2 Representing Spatial Information, Locale Processing, and the Hippocampal Formation 13.4.2 Representing Spatial Information, Locale Processing, and the Hippocampal Formation
    - Lesion Studies of Exploratory Behavior Reveal the Importance of Allocentric Spatial Representation Lesion Studies of Exploratory Behavior Reveal the Importance of Allocentric Spatial Representation
    - Immediate Early Gene Studies Reveal Anatomical Dissociations with Respect to Environmental Representations Immediate Early Gene Studies Reveal Anatomical Dissociations with Respect to Environmental Representations
    - Distributed Representations, Pattern Separation, and Pattern Completion Distributed Representations, Pattern Separation, and Pattern Completion
  - 13.4.3 Using Spatial Information: Spatial Navigation and the Hippocampal Formation 13.4.3 Using Spatial Information: Spatial Navigation and the Hippocampal Formation
    - Radial Maze Radial Maze
    - Watermaze Watermaze
    - Varied Training Protocols Reveal the Importance of the Dorsal Hippocampus for Spatial Navigation Varied Training Protocols Reveal the Importance of the Dorsal Hippocampus for Spatial Navigation
    - Spatial Recognition Does Not Require CA3 Cells Spatial Recognition Does Not Require CA3 Cells
    - Place Cells, Head-direction Cells, and Navigation Place Cells, Head-direction Cells, and Navigation
    - Knowing Where, Getting There, and the Puzzle of Hippocampal Involvement in Path Integration Knowing Where, Getting There, and the Puzzle of Hippocampal Involvement in Path Integration
  - 13.4.4 Comparative Studies of Spatial Memory and the Distinction Between Spatial and Associative Learning 13.4.4 Comparative Studies of Spatial Memory and the Distinction Between Spatial and Associative Learning
    - Comparative Studies Using Avian Species and in Naturalistic Situations Comparative Studies Using Avian Species and in Naturalistic Situations
    - Homing Pigeons Reveal Hippocampus-dependent and Hippocampus-independent Components of Navigation Homing Pigeons Reveal Hippocampus-dependent and Hippocampus-independent Components of Navigation
    - Comparative Studies of Spatial Memory in Rodents Comparative Studies of Spatial Memory in Rodents
    - Maps, Spatial Representations, and Geometry: Is Spatial Learning Qualitatively Different from Associative Learning? Maps, Spatial Representations, and Geometry: Is Spatial Learning Qualitatively Different from Associative Learning?
  - 13.4.5 Storage and Consolidation of Spatial Memory 13.4.5 Storage and Consolidation of Spatial Memory
  - 13.4.6 Critique 13.4.6 Critique
    - Spatial Representation, Maps, and the Geometric Module Spatial Representation, Maps, and the Geometric Module
    - Successful Spatial Navigation Without the Hippocampus Successful Spatial Navigation Without the Hippocampus
    - Multiple Types of Memory? Multiple Types of Memory?
    - Integrity of the Hippocampus Is Required for Many Nonspatial Learning Tasks Integrity of the Hippocampus Is Required for Many Nonspatial Learning Tasks
    - Coda Coda
- 13.5 Predictable Ambiguity: Configural, Relational, and Contextual Theories of Hippocampal Function 13.5 Predictable Ambiguity: Configural, Relational, and Contextual Theories of Hippocampal Function
  - 13.5.1 Configural Association Theory 13.5.1 Configural Association Theory
    - Ambiguity, Conditioning, and the Hippocampus Ambiguity, Conditioning, and the Hippocampus
    - Tests of the Original Configural Association Theory Tests of the Original Configural Association Theory
    - Revised Theory Revised Theory
  - 13.5.2 Relational Processing Theory: Refinement of the Declarative Memory Theory 13.5.2 Relational Processing Theory: Refinement of the Declarative Memory Theory
    - Evidence for Hippocampus-dependent Relational Representations and Flexible Access Evidence for Hippocampus-dependent Relational Representations and Flexible Access
    - Evidence for Functional Dissociations Between Anatomical Components of Declarative Memory: Role of the Hippocampus Evidence for Functional Dissociations Between Anatomical Components of Declarative Memory: Role of the Hippocampus
  - 13.5.3 Contextual Encoding and Retrieval 13.5.3 Contextual Encoding and Retrieval
    - Context Fear Conditioning Context Fear Conditioning
    - Differential Effects of Hippocampal Lesions Before and After Fear Conditioning Differential Effects of Hippocampal Lesions Before and After Fear Conditioning
    - Contextual Control of Stimulus Significance? Contextual Control of Stimulus Significance?
    - Hunger and Thirst as Contexts Hunger and Thirst as Contexts
    - Contextual Control of Extinction Contextual Control of Extinction
  - 13.5.4 Critique 13.5.4 Critique
- 13.6 Episodic Memory, Hippocampus, and Neurobiology of Rapid Context-specific Memory 13.6 Episodic Memory, Hippocampus, and Neurobiology of Rapid Context-specific Memory
  - 13.6.1 Concept of Episodic Memory 13.6.1 Concept of Episodic Memory
  - 13.6.2 Scene Memory as a Basis for Episodic Memory and Top-down Control by the Prefrontal Cortex 13.6.2 Scene Memory as a Basis for Episodic Memory and Top-down Control by the Prefrontal Cortex
    - Recognition Memory, Associative Memory, and Scene Memory Recognition Memory, Associative Memory, and Scene Memory
    - Scene Memory, Place Memory, and Object-in-Place Memory Are Sensitive to Fornix Lesions Scene Memory, Place Memory, and Object-in-Place Memory Are Sensitive to Fornix Lesions
    - Memory Functions of the Temporal Lobe, Delay-Brion Circuit, and Prefrontal Cortex Memory Functions of the Temporal Lobe, Delay-Brion Circuit, and Prefrontal Cortex
  - 13.6.3 What, Where, and When: Studies of Food-caching and Sequence Learning 13.6.3 What, Where, and When: Studies of Food-caching and Sequence Learning
    - Food Caching by Corvids as a Model of “What, Where, and When” Food Caching by Corvids as a Model of “What, Where, and When”
    - Sequence-dependent and Context-dependent Object-Place Memory in Rats Sequence-dependent and Context-dependent Object-Place Memory in Rats
  - 13.6.4 Problem of Awareness 13.6.4 Problem of Awareness
    - Recollection, Familiarity, and Region of Interest Curves Recollection, Familiarity, and Region of Interest Curves
  - 13.6.5 Elements of a Neurobiological Theory of the Role of the Hippocampus in Episodic-like Memory 13.6.5 Elements of a Neurobiological Theory of the Role of the Hippocampus in Episodic-like Memory
    - Automatic Recording and Retrieval of Attended Experience Automatic Recording and Retrieval of Attended Experience
    - Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Neural Activity, and Rapid Paired-associate Learning Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Neural Activity, and Rapid Paired-associate Learning
    - Storage of Spatial/Contextual Information Outside the Hippocampus? Storage of Spatial/Contextual Information Outside the Hippocampus?
    - A Last Word A Last Word
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  - Notes
- REFERENCES REFERENCES
  - Notes
- Notes
- Notes
14 Computational Models of the Spatial and Mnemonic Functions of the Hippocampus
- Notes
- Notes
15 Stress and the Hippocampus
- Notes
- Notes
16 Hippocampus and Human Disease
- Notes
- Notes
- 813Index
  - Notes
  - Notes

Chapter

13 Theories of Hippocampal Function

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https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195100273.003.0013

Pages

581–714

Published:

December 2006

Abstract

This chapter considers a number of prominent theories of hippocampal function that have been developed from work on animals. Two theories have dominated research on hippocampal function over the past quarter century. The first is that it is involved in the formation of memories for everyday facts and events that can be consciously recalled—collectively called declarative memory. The other major theory emerging from observations first made during the recording of single-cell activity in freely moving rodents is the idea that it is involved in spatial memory and, more specifically, the formation of cognitive maps and their use in navigation through space. A range of alternative theories, particularly those built around how memory systems handle ambiguity, associative-relations, and context, are also discussed. The chapter concludes by zeroing in on the idea that neural activity in the hippocampal formation contributes to episodic memory.

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13 Theories of Hippocampal Function

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