TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in fear and memory of a shock-probe experience
AU - McEown, Kristopher
AU - Treit, Dallas
PY - 2009/1/28
Y1 - 2009/1/28
N2 - The roles of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in fear and memory are unclear. This study examined the effects of temporary inactivation of the dorsal or ventral hippocampus on unconditioned and conditioned fear, using the shock-probe test. In Experiment 1, rats received either dorsal or ventral hippocampal infusions of lidocaine or saline, before exposure to an electrified shock-probe (acquisition I). In Experiment 2, rats received lidocaine or saline infusions after exposure to the shock-probe (acquisition II). In both experiments, a retention test in the same apparatus was given 24 h later, at which time the hippocampus was no longer inactivated, and the probe was disconnected from the shock-source. Because ventral hippocampal inactivation impaired fear behaviour during acquisition, and dorsal hippocampal inactivation impaired fear behaviour (probe avoidance) during retention, we concluded that 1) the ventral hippocampus plays a role in the expression of untrained fear reactions whereas 2) the dorsal hippocampus plays a role in encoding memory of the fearful experience.
AB - The roles of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in fear and memory are unclear. This study examined the effects of temporary inactivation of the dorsal or ventral hippocampus on unconditioned and conditioned fear, using the shock-probe test. In Experiment 1, rats received either dorsal or ventral hippocampal infusions of lidocaine or saline, before exposure to an electrified shock-probe (acquisition I). In Experiment 2, rats received lidocaine or saline infusions after exposure to the shock-probe (acquisition II). In both experiments, a retention test in the same apparatus was given 24 h later, at which time the hippocampus was no longer inactivated, and the probe was disconnected from the shock-source. Because ventral hippocampal inactivation impaired fear behaviour during acquisition, and dorsal hippocampal inactivation impaired fear behaviour (probe avoidance) during retention, we concluded that 1) the ventral hippocampus plays a role in the expression of untrained fear reactions whereas 2) the dorsal hippocampus plays a role in encoding memory of the fearful experience.
KW - Fear memory
KW - Fear response
KW - Functional dissociation
KW - Hippocampus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149396659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=58149396659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.11.041
DO - 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.11.041
M3 - Article
C2 - 19061870
AN - SCOPUS:58149396659
VL - 1251
SP - 185
EP - 194
JO - Brain Research Protocols
JF - Brain Research Protocols
SN - 0006-8993
ER -