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Reversible inactivation of the hippocampal formation in food‐storing black‐capped chickadees ( Poecile atricapillus )
Author(s) -
Shiflett Michael W.,
Smulders Tom V.,
Benedict Lauryn,
DeVoogd Timothy J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
hippocampus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.767
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1098-1063
pISSN - 1050-9631
DOI - 10.1002/hipo.10065
Subject(s) - hippocampal formation , neuroscience , communication , psychology , hippocampus , sensory cue , biology
The role of the hippocampal formation (HF) in memory processing was assessed in food‐storing black‐capped chickadees ( Poecile atricapilla ) by reversibly inactivating the HF during different memory tests. The memory tests required birds to remember a location based on spatial cues only, or based on a combination of both spatial and distinct visual cues. Inactivation of the HF impaired short‐term spatial memory, but not visual‐spatial memory. Inactivation of the HF impaired the retrieval of short‐term (15 min) spatial memories, but not long‐term (3‐h) spatial memories. The pattern of deficits produced by inactivation of the HF in chickadees suggests a possible function of the hippocampal specialization of food‐storing birds, as well as extends the notion of functional homology between the avian and mammalian HF. Hippocampus 2003;13:437–444. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.