Cited by 693Memory and Neural MechanismsNeural dynamics and brain functionNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Hippocampal–prefrontal input supports spatial encoding in working memory

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Spellman, Timothy, Rigotti, Mattia, Ahmari, Susanne E., Fusi, Stefano, Gogos, Joseph A., Gordon, Joshua A.·2015·Nature

Abstract

Spatial working memory, the caching of behaviourally relevant spatial cues on a timescale of seconds, is a fundamental constituent of cognition. Although the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are known to contribute jointly to successful spatial working memory, the anatomical pathway and temporal window for the interaction of these structures critical to spatial working memory has not yet been established. Here we find that direct hippocampal-prefrontal afferents are critical for encoding, but not for maintenance or retrieval, of spatial cues in mice. These cues are represented by the activity of individual prefrontal units in a manner that is dependent on hippocampal input only during the cue-encoding phase of a spatial working memory task. Successful encoding of these cues appears to be mediated by gamma-frequency synchrony between the two structures. These findings indicate a critical role for the direct hippocampal-prefrontal afferent pathway in the continuous updating of task-related spatial information during spatial working memory.

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  • Direct hippocampal-to-prefrontal afferents in mice are critical for encoding spatial cues during working memory, and successful encoding of task-related information is mediated by gamma-frequency synchrony between hippocampus and PFC.

    “The direct hippocampal to prefrontal afferents in mice are found to be critical for encoding of spatial cues during working memory, and successful encoding of task-related information is mediated by gamma-frequency synchrony between hippocampus and PFC 21.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [1]Baddeley A Hitch G Bower GA Recent advances in learning and motivation 1974 8 47 90 Academic Press
  2. [36]Sigurdsson T Stark K Karayiorgou M Gogos J Gordon J Impaired hippocampal-prefrontal synchrony in a genetic mouse model of schizophrenia. Nature 2010 464 763 767 20360742 PMC2864584

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Authors
Spellman, T., Rigotti, M., Ahmari, S. E., Fusi, S., Gogos, J. A., & Gordon, J. A.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • IBM Research - Thomas J. Watson Research Center (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Gordon, Joshua A.
Venue
Nature
Published
2015-06-08
Volume
522
Issue
7556
Pages
309-314
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W1576349452
Cited by
693
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 103 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 67 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 11
FWCI
36.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01mh096274-06)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH096274, MH081968, K08MH087718, MH096274, R01MH081968)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
spatial working memory, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, memory maintenance, memory retrieval, single-unit activity, mice
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Afferent Pathways, Animals, Cues, Hippocampus, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Models, Neurological, Space Perception, Prefrontal Cortex, Mice, Optogenetics, Spatial Memory

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