Neural Correlates of Long-Term Object Memory in the Mouse Anterior Cingulate Cortex

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5265-11.2012
• Publication Date: 2012-04-18T16:39:06Z
• Authors: Aldis P. Weible; David C. Rowland; Caitlin K. Monaghan; Nicholas T. Wolfgang; Clifford G. Kentros
• Keywords: Retrograde amnesia; Long-term memory

Damage to the hippocampal formation results in a profound temporally graded retrograde amnesia, implying that it is necessary for memory acquisition but not its long-term storage. It therefore thought memories are transferred from hippocampus cortex storage process called systems consolidation (Dudai and Morris, 2000). Where this occurs remains an open question. Recent work (Frankland et al., 2005; Vetere 2011) suggests anterior cingulate (ACC) as likely candidate area, there little direct electrophysiological evidence support claim. Previously, we demonstrated object-associated firing correlates caudal ACC during tests of recognition described neuronal responses where object had been following brief delay. However, requires more durable representations. Here examined activity neurons while testing absent object. Mice explored two objects arena then were returned 6 h later with one removed. continued explore been, demonstrating Remarkably, some respond others developed new object's location. The incidence absent-object by was greatly increased familiarization objects, such still evident 1 month later. These data strongly suggest contains neural consolidated object/place association memory.