Neurogenesis Dependent Learning And Implications For Episodic Memory In Rodent Models.

Abstract

This thesis reviews research into the hippocampus as it relates to episodic memory, neurogenesis, and their potential functional intersection. Chapter 2 presents a novel model for episodic-like memory in rats, and relates it to previous models and its potential application for human episodic memory. In chapter 3, we present research comparing adult neurogenesis between spatial and non-spatial hippocampal dependent tasks. The results presented in chapter 3 suggest that neurogenesis may only pay a role in hippocampal tasks that are encoded alone across several days, and thus correspond to the time scale in which new neurons become integrated into the dentate gyrus.