Significance for hippocampal memory of context-like information generated in hippocampal CA3c

Abstract

It has been suggested that the cooperation between spatial and temporal selectivities of hippocampal CA3 contributes to sequence disambiguation, which is one of essential functions of the hippocampus. We demonstrate the validity of the suggestion by using sequences assumed from a modified T-maze in which rats perform a task. It should be noted here that CA3c, which is one of the CA3 subregions, generates context-like information that contributes to sequence disambiguation. Finally, we discuss the significance of the context-like information generated in CA3c from a structural and functional viewpoint and suggest that the feedforward and feedback of the context-like information play an essential role in the memory formation of the hippocampus by affecting spatial and temporal information processing in hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA1, respectively. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.