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    Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampal Area CA1-Subiculum Projection: Implications for Theories of Memory


    O'Mara, Shane M., Commins, Sean and Anderson, Michael (2000) Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampal Area CA1-Subiculum Projection: Implications for Theories of Memory. Hippocampus, 10. pp. 447-456. ISSN 1098-1063

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    Abstract

    This paper reviews investigations of synaptic plasticity in the major, and underexplored, pathway from hippocampal area CA1 to the subiculum. This brain area is the major synaptic relay for the majority of hippocampal area CA1 neurons, making the subiculum the last relay of the hippocampal formation prior to the cortex. The subiculum thus has a very major role in mediating hippocampal-cortical interactions. We demonstrate that the projection from hippocampal area CA1 to the subiculum sustains plasticity on a number of levels. We show that this pathway is capable of undergoing both long-term potentiation (LTP) and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF, a short-term plastic effect). Although we failed to induce long-term depression (LTD) of this pathway with low-frequency stimulation (LFS) and two-pulse stimulation (TPS), both protocols can induce a “late-developing” potentiation of synaptic transmission. We further demonstrate that baseline synaptic transmission can be dissociated from paired-pulse stimulation of the same pathway; we also show that it is possible, using appropriate protocols, to change PPF to paired-pulse de-pression, thus revealing subtle and previously undescribed mechanisms which regulate short-term synaptic plasticity. Finally, we successfully recorded from individual subicular units in the freely-moving animal, and provide a description of the characteristics of such neurons in a pellet-chasing task. We discuss the implications of these findings in relation to theories of the biological consolidation of memory
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: subiculum; LTP; LTD; hippocampal-cortical interaction; synaptic plasticity; freely moving;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
    Item ID: 19679
    Depositing User: Dr. Sean Commins
    Date Deposited: 10 Apr 2025 13:39
    Journal or Publication Title: Hippocampus
    Publisher: Wiley
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/19679
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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