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Cortical and medial amygdala are both involved in the formation of olfactory offspring memory in sheep
Author(s) -
Keller Matthieu,
Perrin Gaëlle,
Meurisse Maryse,
Ferreira Guillaume,
Lévy Frédéric
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03812.x
Subject(s) - amygdala , olfactory memory , neuroscience , basolateral amygdala , nucleus , olfactory system , olfaction , anterior olfactory nucleus , psychology , chemistry , biology , central nervous system , nucleus accumbens , olfactory tubercle , olfactory bulb
Ewes form a selective olfactory memory for their lambs after 2 h of mother–young interaction following parturition. Once this recognition is established, ewes will subsequently reject any strange lamb approaching the udder (i.e. maternal selectivity). The present study tested the functional contribution of different amygdala nuclei to lamb olfactory memory formation. Using the anaesthetic lidocaine, cortical, medial or basolateral nuclei of the amygdala were transiently inactivated during lamb odour memory formation. Reversible inactivation of either cortical or medial amygdala during the first 8 h postpartum impaired lamb olfactory recognition, whereas inactivation of the basolateral nucleus or infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid did not. Control experiments indicate that inactivation of the cortical and medial nuclei of the amygdala specifically disrupt memory formation rather than olfactory perception or memory retrieval. These findings show that both nuclei of the amygdala are required for the formation of a lamb olfactory memory and suggest functional interaction between these two nuclei.