The Avian Hippocampus, Homing in Pigeons and the Memory Representation of Large-Scale Space
Abstract
The extraordinary navigational ability of homing pigeons provides a unique spatial cognitive system to investigate how the brain is able to represent past experiences as memory. In this paper, we first summarize a large body of lesion data in an attempt to characterize the role of the avian hippocampal formation (HF) in homing. What emerges from this analysis is the critical importance of HF for the learning of map-like, spatial representations of environmental stimuli used for navigation. We then explore some interesting properties of the homing pigeon HF, using for discussion the notion that the homing pigeon HF likely displays some anatomical or physiological specialization(s), compared to the laboratory rat, that account for its participation in homing and the representation of large-scale, environmental space. Discussed are the internal connectivity among HF subdivisions, the occurrence of neurogenesis, the presence of rhythmic theta activity and the electrophysiological profile of HF neurons. Comparing the characteristics of the homing pigeon HF with the hippocampus of the laboratory rat, two opposing perspectives can be supported. On the one hand, one could emphasize the subtle differences in the properties of the homing pigeon HF as possible departure points for exploring how the homing pigeon HF may be adapted for homing and the representation of large-scale space. Alternatively, one could emphasize the similarities with the rat hippocampus and suggest that, if homing pigeons represent space in a way different from rats, then the neural specializations that would account for the difference must lie outside HF. Only future research will determine which of these two perspectives offers a better approximation of the truth.
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Extensive evidence in birds suggests that the processing and storage of spatial information contributing to episodic-like memory is dependent on the avian hippocampus.
“While extensive evidence in birds suggests that the processing and storage of spatial information contributing to episodic-like memory is dependent on the avian hippocampus [130–132]”
From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [130]
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- Authors
- Bingman, V. P.
- Affiliations
- Bowling Green State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bingman, V. P.
- Venue
- Integrative and Comparative Biology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2005-06-01
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 555-564
- ISSN
- 1540-7063 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-7023
- OpenAlex
- W2119481966
- Cited by
- 99
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Integrative and Comparative Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ScholarWorks@BGSU (Bowling Green State University) (submittedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (0075891)
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Keywords
- homing pigeons, animal navigation, spatial memory, lesion studies, hippocampal connectivity, hippocampal neurogenesis, theta oscillations, neural specialization
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