The present experiments were designed to examine the hypothesis that the hippocampus and caudate nucleus are parts of independent memory systems which differ in the type of memory they mediate. In experiment 1, the mnemonic functions of the hippocampus and caudate were doubly dissociated; lesions of the caudate nucleus impaired acquisition of the "habit memory" component of the 4 x 4 radial maze task, but had no effect the "cognitive memory" component of the task. Lesions of the fimbria-fornix produced the opposite behavioral dissociation. In experiment 2, lesions of the caudate nucleus produced a transient deficit in cognitive win-shift radial maze behavior when rats were allowed to obtain food from maze arms on an unlimited basis prior to win-shift training. In contrast, lesions of the caudate had no effect on win-shift acquisition when rats were allowed to explore an empty maze prior to win-shift training. These results suggest that reinforcement contingencies may be important in determining the type of memory process initiated by a training experience. In experiments 3ab, systemic post-training injection of the dopamine (DA) agonist D-amphetamine (D-AMP) and the DA D2 receptor agonist LY 171555, but not the DA D1 receptor agonist SKF-38393, improved acquisition on both a habit memory win-stay radial maze task, and a cognitive memory win-shift radial maze task. In experiments 4ab, the mnemonic functions of the hippocampus and caudate nucleus were doubly dissociated using post-training intracerebral injections of these same DA agonists. Post-training intracaudate injection of D-AMP, LY 171555, and SKF-38393 improved acquisition of win-stay, but not win-shift radial maze behavior. Post-training intrahippocampal injection of these DA agonists produced the opposite behavioral dissociation. Taken together, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that the caudate nucleus mediates the acquisition of habit memory, while the hippocampus mediates the acquisition

The acquisition of a behavioural response (learning) and the later retrieval of this response (memory) are separated by an endogenous biological process which consolidates the temporary neural changes initiated by training. Intracerebral infusions of stimulants to the hippocampus potentiate this process and infusions of protein synthesis inhibitors (PSIs) impair it. A tacit assumption regarding the application of PSIs is that they have no effect upon spontaneous brain electrical activity; however, given their documented non-specific side effects, this idea was re-evaluated under controlled conditions. Hippocampal recordings were made in urethane anaesthetized rats before and after unilateral hippocampal infusions of the PSIs anisomycin and cycloheximide. Infusions suppressed local field potentials, eliminated sink/source alternations and silenced multiunit activity without affecting the contralateral hippocampus. This suppression was correlated with the degree of protein synthesis inhibition. These results present a serious confound for all results obtained using anisomycin and cycloheximide to test memory consolidation.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Heidelberg, Univ., Diss., 2008.

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Thesis (M.A.)--Kent State University, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed March 27, 2008). Advisor: Chet C. Sherwood. Keywords: hippocampus, spatial memory, diet, habitat, home range, activity pattern, primate, independent contrast. Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-89).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 1998. / Spine title: Effects of substrates on polarity. Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-153). Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

Univ., Diss.--München, 2001.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on July 13, 2009). "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Behaviour, Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of Psychology, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.