A new touchscreen test of pattern separation: effect of hippocampal lesions.

Full Abstract

Researchers are becoming increasingly interested in the role of the hippocampus in pattern separation, a process which keeps items distinct in memory. In this study, we develop and test a new automated touchscreen-based method for studying pattern separation in rodents. Rats were trained to discriminate locations on a computer screen that varied in their similarity, that is, their distance apart on the screen. Animals with lesions of the dorsal hippocampus were impaired when the locations discriminated were close together but not when they were far apart, indicating impaired pattern separation. This test provides an automated test of pattern separation, which adds to an expanding battery of cognitive tests that can be carried out using the touchscreen testing method.

Author information

Author/s: McTighe, Stephanie M (SM); Mar, Adam C (AC); Romberg, Carola (C); Bussey, Timothy J (TJ); Saksida, Lisa M (LM);

Affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. sm508(-atsign-)cam.ac.uk

Grants: (Agency:Medical Research Council) ; (Agency:Wellcome Trust)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 20 (issue 9) : pp 881-5

Dates: Created 2009/06/03; Completed 2009/08/21;

PMID: 19421077, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.