Spatio-temporal mechanisms of consolidation, recall and reconsolidation in reward-related memory trace.

The formation of memories is a complex, multi-scale phenomenon, especially when it involves integration of information from various brain systems. We have investigated the differences between a novel and consolidated association of spatial cues and amphetamine administration, using an in situ hybridisation method to track the short-term dynamics during the recall testing. We have found that remote recall group involves smaller, but more consolidated groups of neurons, which is consistent with their specialisation.

FOS mapping reveals two complementary circuits for spatial navigation in mouse.

Here, we show that during continuous navigation in a dynamic external environment, mice are capable of developing a foraging strategy based exclusively on changing distal (allothetic) information and that this process may involve two alternative components of the spatial memory circuit: the hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex. To this end, we designed a novel custom apparatus and implemented a behavioral protocol based on the figure-8-maze paradigm with two goal locations associated with distinct contexts. We assessed whether mice are able to learn to retrieve a sequence of rewards guided exclusively by the changing context.

Novel Design and Application of High-NA Fiber Imaging Bundles for In Vivo Brain Imaging with Two-Photon Scanning Fluorescence Microscopy.

Here, we provide experimental verification supporting the use of short-section imaging bundles for two-photon microscopy imaging of the mouse brain. The 8 mm long bundle is made of a pair of heavy-metal oxide glasses with a refractive index contrast of 0.38 to ensure a high numerical aperture NA = 1.

Retrosplenial cortex in spatial memory: focus on immediate early genes mapping.

The ability to form, retrieve and update autobiographical memories is one of the most fascinating features of human behavior. Spatial memory, the ability to remember the layout of the external environment and to navigate within its boundaries, is closely related to the autobiographical memory domain. It is served by an overlapping brain circuit, centered around the hippocampus (HPC) where the cognitive map index is stored.