All-optical interrogation of the hippocampal role in episodic memory formation, consolidation and retrieval
The hippocampus is crucial for spatial navigation and episodic memory formation. Hippocampal place cells exhibit spatially selective activity within an environment and have been proposed to form the neural basis of a cognitive map of space that supports these mnemonic functions. However, the direct influence of place cell activity on spatial navigation behaviour has not yet been demonstrated. Using an ‘all-optical’ combination of simultaneous two-photon calcium imaging and two-photon holographically targeted optogenetics, we identified and selectively activated place cells that encoded behaviourally relevant locations in a virtual reality environment. Targeted stimulation of a small number of place cells was sufficient to bias the behaviour of animals during a spatial memory task, providing causal evidence that hippocampal place cells actively support spatial navigation and memory. I will also describe new experiments aimed at understanding the fundamental encoding mechanisms that support episodic memory, focussing on the role of hippocampal sequences across multiple timescales and behaviours.
Date: 28 June 2022, 14:30 (Tuesday, 10th week, Trinity 2022)
Venue: Sherrington Library, off Parks Road OX1 3PT
Speaker: Dr Nick Robinson (University College London)
Organising department: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG)
Organiser: Professor Andrew King (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: andrew.king@dpag.ox.ac.uk
Host: Professor Andrew King (University of Oxford)
Part of: Neuroscience Theme Guest Speakers (DPAG)
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Talitha Smith