TY - JOUR
T1 - The anterior thalamus provides a subcortical circuit supporting memory and spatial navigation
AU - Jankowski, Maciej M.
AU - Ronnqvist, Kim C.
AU - Tsanov, Marian
AU - Vann, Seralynne D.
AU - Wright, Nicholas F.
AU - Erichsen, Jonathan T.
AU - Aggleton, John P.
AU - O’Mara, Shane M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2013 Jankowski, Ronnqvist, Tsanov, Vann, Wright, Erichsen, Aggleton, and O’Mara.
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - The anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN), a central component of Papez’ circuit, are generally assumed to be key constituents of the neural circuits responsible for certain categories of learning and memory. Supporting evidence for this contention is that damage to either of two brain regions, the medial temporal lobe and the medial diencephalon, is most consistently associated with anterograde amnesia. Within these respective regions, the hippocampal formation and the ATN (anteromedial, anteroventral, and anterodorsal) are the particular structures of interest. The extensive direct and indirect hippocampal-anterior thalamic interconnections and the presence of theta-modulated cells in both sites further support the hypothesis that these structures constitute a neuronal network crucial for memory and cognition. The major tool in understanding how the brain processes information is the analysis of neuronal output at each hierarchical level along the pathway of signal propagation coupled with neuroanatomical studies. Here, we discuss the electrophysiological properties of cells in the ATN with an emphasis on their role in spatial navigation. In addition, we describe neuroanatomical and functional relationships between the ATN and hippocampal formation.
AB - The anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN), a central component of Papez’ circuit, are generally assumed to be key constituents of the neural circuits responsible for certain categories of learning and memory. Supporting evidence for this contention is that damage to either of two brain regions, the medial temporal lobe and the medial diencephalon, is most consistently associated with anterograde amnesia. Within these respective regions, the hippocampal formation and the ATN (anteromedial, anteroventral, and anterodorsal) are the particular structures of interest. The extensive direct and indirect hippocampal-anterior thalamic interconnections and the presence of theta-modulated cells in both sites further support the hypothesis that these structures constitute a neuronal network crucial for memory and cognition. The major tool in understanding how the brain processes information is the analysis of neuronal output at each hierarchical level along the pathway of signal propagation coupled with neuroanatomical studies. Here, we discuss the electrophysiological properties of cells in the ATN with an emphasis on their role in spatial navigation. In addition, we describe neuroanatomical and functional relationships between the ATN and hippocampal formation.
KW - Anterior thalamus
KW - Head direction cells
KW - Memory
KW - Spatial navigation
KW - Theta rhythm
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85010911532&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fnsys.2013.00045
DO - 10.3389/fnsys.2013.00045
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AN - SCOPUS:85010911532
SN - 1662-5137
VL - 7
JO - Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
JF - Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
M1 - 45
ER -