Lesions of the lateral entorhinal cortex disrupt non-spatial latent learning but spare spatial latent learning in the rat (Rattus norvegicus). 2013

Eric M Stouffer, and Jessalyn E Klein
Department of Psychology, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA, estouffe@bloomu.edu.

The current study examined the function of the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) in a non-spatial latent learning task and a spatial latent learning task. Latent learning is the acquisition of neutral information that does not immediately influence behavior, but can be recalled and utilized when it becomes relevant to the animal. Based on previous research, it was predicted that the LEC would be necessary for latent learning of non-spatial information, but would not be necessary for latent learning of spatial information. Forty-two male Sprague Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) were either given pretraining neurotoxic lesions restricted to the LEC or were given sham (SH) lesions. The rats were then trained and tested on two latent learning tasks: the Latent Cue Preference (LCP) task which assesses single-cue (non-spatial) latent learning and a spatial latent learning task utilizing a Barnes maze. Results showed that rats with LEC lesions were impaired on the nonspatial LCP task compared to SH rats, but showed no impairment on the spatial latent learning task. Therefore, the LEC appears to be selectively involved in processing non-spatial latent learning and does not process, or is at least not necessary for, spatial latent learning. These findings indicate a specific role of the LEC in information processing and provide new information about the function of the entorhinal cortex.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D003463 Cues Signals for an action; that specific portion of a perceptual field or pattern of stimuli to which a subject has learned to respond. Cue
D000704 Analysis of Variance A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable. ANOVA,Analysis, Variance,Variance Analysis,Analyses, Variance,Variance Analyses
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001245 Association Learning The principle that items experienced together enter into a connection, so that one tends to reinstate the other. Association Learnings,Learning, Association,Learnings, Association
D013028 Space Perception The awareness of the spatial properties of objects; includes physical space. Perception, Space,Perceptions, Space,Space Perceptions
D016202 N-Methylaspartate An amino acid that, as the D-isomer, is the defining agonist for the NMDA receptor subtype of glutamate receptors (RECEPTORS, NMDA). N-Methyl-D-aspartate,NMDA,N-Methyl-D-aspartic Acid,Acid, N-Methyl-D-aspartic,N Methyl D aspartate,N Methyl D aspartic Acid,N Methylaspartate
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus
D018690 Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists Drugs that bind to and activate excitatory amino acid receptors. Amino Acids, Excitatory, Agonists,Glutamate Agonists,Agonists, Excitatory Amino Acid,Amino Acid Agonist, Excitatory,Amino Acid Agonists, Excitatory,EAA Agonist,EAA Agonists,Excitatory Amino Acid Agonist,Glutamate Agonist,Agonist, EAA,Agonist, Glutamate,Agonists, EAA,Agonists, Glutamate

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