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CA1 pyramidal cell diversity enabling parallel information processing in the hippocampus

Nature Neuroscience volume 21, pages 484–493 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Hippocampal network operations supporting spatial navigation and declarative memory are traditionally interpreted in a framework where each hippocampal area, such as the dentate gyrus, CA3, and CA1, consists of homogeneous populations of functionally equivalent principal neurons. However, heterogeneity within hippocampal principal cell populations, in particular within pyramidal cells at the main CA1 output node, is increasingly recognized and includes developmental, molecular, anatomical, and functional differences. Here we review recent progress in the delineation of hippocampal principal cell subpopulations by focusing on radially defined subpopulations of CA1 pyramidal cells, and we consider how functional segregation of information streams, in parallel channels with nonuniform properties, could represent a general organizational principle of the hippocampus supporting diverse behaviors.

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Fig. 1: Hypothetical nature of parallel channels.
Fig. 2: Developmental, genetic, morphological, and intrinsic electrophysiological differences between radially defined CA1PC sublayers.
Fig. 3: Biased microcircuits and afferent–efferent connectivity of superficial and deep CA1PCs.
Fig. 4: Differential behavioral functions of radially defined CA1PCs subpopulations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank T. Klausberger for initial discussions and G. Fishell for advice. The work was supported by US National Institutes of Health grants NS94668 and NS104590 (to I.S. and A.L.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery and Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Ivan Soltesz

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Attila Losonczy

  3. Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Attila Losonczy

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Soltesz, I., Losonczy, A. CA1 pyramidal cell diversity enabling parallel information processing in the hippocampus. Nat Neurosci 21, 484–493 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-018-0118-0

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