Cited by 1,409Memory and Neural MechanismsSpatial Cognition and NavigationMemory Processes and Influences

What does the retrosplenial cortex do?

Vann, Seralynne D., Aggleton, John P., Maguire, Eleanor A.·2009·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

The past decade has seen a transformation in research on the retrosplenial cortex (RSC). This cortical area has emerged as a key member of a core network of brain regions that underpins a range of cognitive functions, including episodic memory, navigation, imagination and planning for the future. It is now also evident that the RSC is consistently compromised in the most common neurological disorders that impair memory. Here we review advances on multiple fronts, most notably in neuroanatomy, animal studies and neuroimaging, that have highlighted the importance of the RSC for cognition, and consider why specifying its precise functions remains problematic.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrn2733

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144 of 144 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Both retrosplenial damage and hippocampal damage can cause anterograde amnesia.

    “This outcome is to be expected as both retrosplenial damage and hippocampal damage can cause anterograde amnesia (Spiers et al., 2001; Valenstein et al., 1987; Vann et al., 2009)”

    From The cingulum bundle: Anatomy, function, and dysfunction (2018) · cites this paper as Vann et al., 2009

  • RSC has been previously implicated in spatial navigation and spatial memory.

    “This region has been previously implicated in spatial navigation13, 22 and spatial memory14, 23.”
  • There is striking overlap among brain regions involved in retrieval of autobiographical memories, imagination of novel events, and navigation.

    “Much recent interest has focused on the striking overlap among brain regions involved in the retrieval of autobiographical memories, the imagination of novel events, and navigation14, 47, 48.”
  • Retrosplenial cortex is thought to support integration and translation between egocentric spatial representations in posterior parietal cortex and allocentric spatial representations in the MTL.

    “Retrosplenial cortex is thought to support integration and translation between egocentric spatial representations in posterior parietal cortex and allocentric spatial representations in the MTL (71), and these processes are recruited to a greater extent when spatial context needs to be updated and manipulated (72).”

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Authors
Vann, S. D., Aggleton, J. P., & Maguire, E. A.
Affiliations
  • Cardiff University (GB)
  • Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (GB)
Corresponding author
Vann, Seralynne D.
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2009-10-08
Volume
10
Issue
11
Pages
792-802
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W1991490575
Cited by
1,409
References
144
Citations by year
2026: 70 · 2025: 118 · 2024: 97 · 2023: 92 · 2022: 106 · 2021: 94 · 2020: 97 · 2019: 87 · 2018: 109 · 2017: 76 · 2016: 89 · 2015: 83 · 2014: 69 · 2013: 80 · 2012: 50
FWCI
3.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (084218)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/D002001/1, BB/B501955/1)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
retrosplenial cortex, episodic memory, spatial navigation, scene construction, perspective taking, memory disorders, cognitive function, neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, animal studies
MeSH terms
Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Cognition, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Nerve Net, Anterior Thalamic Nuclei

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