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Recollection-like memory retrieval in rats is dependent on the hippocampus

Nature volume 431, pages 188–191 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Recognition memory may be supported by two independent types of retrieval, conscious recollection of a specific experience and a sense of familiarity gained from previous exposure to particular stimuli1,2. In humans, signal detection techniques have been used to distinguish recollection and familiarity, respectively, in asymmetrical and curvilinear components of their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, standard curves that represent item recognition across different levels of confidence or bias. To determine whether animals also employ multiple processes in recognition memory and to explore the anatomical basis of this distinction, we adapted these techniques to examine odour recognition memory in rats. Their ROC curve had asymmetrical and curvilinear components, indicating the existence of both recollection and familiarity in rats. Furthermore, following selective damage to the hippocampus the ROC curve became entirely symmetrical and remained curvilinear, supporting the view that the hippocampus specifically mediates the capacity for recollection.

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Figure 1: ROCs for recognition performance in humans and rats.
Figure 2: Lesions of the hippocampus reconstructed on coronal sections of the rat brain.
Figure 3: Odour recognition task.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. O'Connell, A. Milewski, L. Giocomo, J. Estes, D. Tosa, R. Kline, J. Davidson and B. Goldberg for help with behavioural testing. We also thank R. Komorowski for histological work, A. Yonelinas for providing the least-squares curve-fitting algorithm and J. Manns for comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. Supported by NIA and NIMH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Memory and Brain, Boston University, 2 Cummington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA

    Norbert J. Fortin, Sean P. Wright & Howard Eichenbaum

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  1. Norbert J. Fortin
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  2. Sean P. Wright
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  3. Howard Eichenbaum
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Correspondence to Howard Eichenbaum.

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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Notes

Presents further notes on analyses of raw and z-tranformed data. (DOC 28 kb)

Supplementary Figure 1

Slopes of linear fits for preoperative, control, and hippocampal group data in z-ROC space. (JPG 44 kb)

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Fortin, N., Wright, S. & Eichenbaum, H. Recollection-like memory retrieval in rats is dependent on the hippocampus. Nature 431, 188–191 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02853

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