Progressive Transformation of Hippocampal Neuronal Representations in “Morphed” Environments

Hippocampal neural codes for different, familiar environments are thought to reflect distinct attractor states, possibly implemented in the recurrent CA3 network. A defining property of an attractor network is its ability to undergo sharp and coherent transitions between pre-established (learned) re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2005-10, Vol.48 (2), p.345-358
Main Authors: Leutgeb, Jill K., Leutgeb, Stefan, Treves, Alessandro, Meyer, Retsina, Barnes, Carol A., McNaughton, Bruce L., Moser, May-Britt, Moser, Edvard I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Potentials - physiology
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Brain Mapping
Computer Simulation
Environment
Hippocampus - cytology
Male
Nerve Net - physiology
Neural networks
Neural Networks (Computer)
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Neurons
Neurons - physiology
Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology
Photic Stimulation - methods
Population
Rats
Rats, Long-Evans
Regression Analysis
Space Perception - physiology
Statistics as Topic
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Summary:Hippocampal neural codes for different, familiar environments are thought to reflect distinct attractor states, possibly implemented in the recurrent CA3 network. A defining property of an attractor network is its ability to undergo sharp and coherent transitions between pre-established (learned) representations when the inputs to the network are changed. To determine whether hippocampal neuronal ensembles exhibit such discontinuities, we recorded in CA3 and CA1 when a familiar square recording enclosure was morphed in quantifiable steps into a familiar circular enclosure while leaving other inputs constant. We observed a gradual noncoherent progression from the initial to the final network state. In CA3, the transformation was accompanied by significant hysteresis, resulting in more similar end states than when only square and circle were presented. These observations suggest that hippocampal cell assemblies are capable of incremental plastic deformation, with incongruous information being incorporated into pre-existing representations.
ISSN:0896-6273
1097-4199
DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2005.09.007