Selection of distinct populations of dentate granule cells in response to inputs as a mechanism for pattern separation in mice

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.00312
• Publication Date: 2013-03-19T12:10:48Z
• Authors: Wei Deng; Mark Mayford; Fred H Gage
• Keywords: Granule (geology)

The hippocampus is critical for episodic memory and computational studies have predicted specific functions each hippocampal subregion. Particularly, the dentate gyrus (DG) hypothesized to perform pattern separation by forming distinct representations of similar inputs. How achieved DG remains largely unclear. By examining neuronal activities at a population level, we revealed that, unlike CA1 neuron populations, granule cell (DGC) ensembles activated learning were not preferentially reactivated recall. Moreover, when mice encountered an environment which they had been previously exposed, novel DGC population-rather than that responded past events-was selected represent new environmental This selection responsive could be triggered small changes in Therefore, selecting populations but identical inputs mechanism separation. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00312.001.