A computational theory of hippocampal function, and empirical tests of the theory.

Full Abstract

The main aim of the paper is to present an up-to-date computational theory of hippocampal function and the predictions it makes about the different subregions (dentate gyrus, CA3 and CA1), and to examine behavioral and electrophysiological data that address the functions of the hippocampus and particularly its subregions. Based on the computational proposal that the dentate gyrus produces sparse representations by competitive learning and via the mossy fiber pathway forces new representations on the CA3 during learning (encoding), it has been shown behaviorally that the dentate gyrus supports spatial pattern separation during learning. Based on the computational proposal that CA3-CA3 autoassociative networks are important for episodic memory, it has been shown behaviorally that the CA3 supports spatial rapid one-trial learning, learning of arbitrary associations where space is a component, pattern completion, spatial short-term memory, and sequence learning by associations formed between successive items. The concept that the CA1 recodes information from CA3 and sets up associatively learned backprojections to neocortex to allow subsequent retrieval of information to neocortex, is consistent with findings on consolidation. Behaviorally, the CA1 is implicated in processing temporal information as shown by investigations requiring temporal order pattern separation and associations across time; computationally this could involve temporal decay memory, and temporal sequence memory which might also require CA3. The perforant path input to DG is implicated in learning, to CA3 in retrieval from CA3, and to CA1 in retrieval after longer time intervals ("intermediate-term memory").

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Author information

Author/s: Rolls, Edmund T (ET); Kesner, Raymond P (RP);

Affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Experimental Psychology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, United Kingdom. Edmund.Rolls(-atsign-)psy.ox.ac.uk

Grants: 5R01MH065314-02 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Review

Journal: Progress in neurobiology (Prog Neurobiol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 79 (issue 1) : pp 1-48

Dates: Created 2006/07/12; Completed 2006/10/10; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16781044, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Computational Biology - methods
Empirical Research
Hippocampus - physiology

Hippocampus - physiology
Humans
Models, Neurological
Nerve Net - physiology

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