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Cheng HY, Fournier DI, Todd TP. Retrosplenial cortex and aversive conditioning. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1341705. [PMID: 38983870 PMCID: PMC11232490 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1341705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is well-known for its contribution to episodic memory, as well as contextual and spatial learning and memory. However, two literatures have also emerged examining the role of the RSC in aversive conditioning. The purpose of this manuscript is to review, and attempt to integrate, these two literatures. We focus on studies in which discrete cues, such as tones, predict the occurrence of aversive outcomes, such as mild shocks. Using both electrophysiological recordings and lesion methods, the first literature has examined RSC contributions to discriminative avoidance conditioning. The second, and more recent literature, has focused on the role of the RSC in Pavlovian fear conditioning. We discuss both literatures in terms of the type of information processed by the RSC, the role of the RSC in memory storage, and how the aversive conditioning literature might be consistent with a role for the RSC in contextual learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Travis P. Todd
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
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Stress-induced generalization of negative memories is mediated by an extended hippocampal circuit. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:516-523. [PMID: 34493828 PMCID: PMC8674250 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01174-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Memories of negative experiences exert important control of behavior in the face of actual or anticipated threat. Sometimes, however, this control extends to non-threatening situations, a phenomenon known as overgeneralization of negative memories. Overgeneralization is a reliable cognitive phenotype of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. We therefore sought to develop an animal model to study stress-induced generalization of negative memories (SIG) and determine its dependence on the episodic-like memory circuit. We found that male and female mice, which were trained to differentiate a threatening from neutral context, exhibited robust SIG in response to subsequent social stress. Using chemogenetic circuit manipulations during memory retrieval, we demonstrated that both excitatory afferents to the dorsal hippocampus (DH) from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and excitatory efferents from the DH to the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) contribute to SIG. Based on the known roles of these projections, we suggest that (1) by targeting subcortical VTA circuits that provide valence signals to the DH, stress prioritizes the retrieval of negative over neutral memories, and (2) by forwarding such information to the RSC, stress engages cortical mechanisms that support the retrieval of general relative to specific memory features. Altogether, these results suggest that various components of the extended hippocampal circuit can serve as treatment targets for memory overgeneralization.
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Castiello S, Zhang W, Delamater AR. The retrosplenial cortex as a possible "sensory integration" area: A neural network modeling approach of the differential outcomes effect in negative patterning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 185:107527. [PMID: 34592469 PMCID: PMC8595819 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We explored the hypothesis that learning a Pavlovian negative patterning task would be facilitated when training with differential, as opposed to non-differential, reinforcing outcomes. Two groups of rats received pairings of one visual and one auditory stimulus with food reward when these stimuli were presented on separate training trials, but without reward when both stimuli were presented on simultaneous stimulus compound trials (V+, A+, AV-; similar to an XOR problem). For Group Differential, each stimulus was separately paired with distinctively tasting food rewards, whereas for Group Non-Differential each stimulus was randomly paired with both food reward types across different stimulus element trials. We observed that rats learned the negative patterning task more rapidly and effectively when trained with differential outcomes. These data support a multi-layered connectionist model introduced by Delamater (2012) in which a multi-modal processing structure plays the role of a "sensory integration" area like that hypothesized for the retrosplenial cortex by Dave Bucci and his colleagues (e.g., Todd, Fournier, & Bucci, 2019). We discuss how such a region may develop different "negative occasion setting" and "configural inhibition" mechanisms in solving negative patterning and related tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Castiello
- University of Oxford, UK; Brooklyn College - City University of New York, United States
| | - Wenya Zhang
- Brooklyn College - City University of New York, United States
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Retrosplenial cortex inactivation during retrieval, but not encoding, impairs remotely acquired auditory fear conditioning in male rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 185:107517. [PMID: 34500052 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Prior studies with permanent lesion methods have demonstrated a role for the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) in the retrieval of remotely, but not recently, acquired delay fear conditioning. To extend the generalizability of these prior findings, the present experiments used chemogenetics to temporarily inactivate the RSC during either retrieval or encoding of delay auditory fear conditioning. Inactivation of the RSC at the time of test impaired retrieval of a remotely conditioned auditory cue, but not a recently conditioned one. In addition, inactivation of the RSC during encoding had no impact on freezing during later retrieval testing for both a remotely and recently conditioned auditory cue. These findings indicate that the RSC contributes to the retrieval, but not encoding, of remotely acquired auditory fear conditioning, and suggest it has less of a role in both retrieval and encoding of recently acquired auditory fear conditioning.
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Aggleton JP, Yanakieva S, Sengpiel F, Nelson AJ. The separate and combined properties of the granular (area 29) and dysgranular (area 30) retrosplenial cortex. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 185:107516. [PMID: 34481970 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Retrosplenial cortex contains two principal subdivisions, area 29 (granular) and area 30 (dysgranular). Their respective anatomical connections in the rat brain reveal that area 29 is the primary recipient of hippocampal and parahippocampal spatial and contextual information while area 30 is the primary interactor with current visual information. Lesion studies and measures of neuronal activity in rodents indicate that retrosplenial cortex helps to integrate space from different perspectives, e.g., egocentric and allocentric, providing landmark and heading cues for navigation and spatial learning. It provides a repository of scene information that, over time, becomes increasingly independent of the hippocampus. These processes, reflect the interactive actions between areas 29 and 30, along with their convergent influences on cortical and thalamic targets. Consequently, despite their differences, both areas 29 and 30 are necessary for an array of spatial and learning problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AT, UK.
| | - Steliana Yanakieva
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Frank Sengpiel
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Andrew J Nelson
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AT, UK
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Yoshida M, Chinzorig C, Matsumoto J, Nishimaru H, Ono T, Yamazaki M, Nishijo H. Configural Cues Associated with Reward Elicit Theta Oscillations of Rat Retrosplenial Cortical Neurons Phase-Locked to LFP Theta Cycles. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:2729-2741. [PMID: 33415336 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous behavioral studies implicated the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) in stimulus-stimulus associations, and also in the retrieval of remote associative memory based on EEG theta oscillations. However, neural mechanisms involved in the retrieval of stored information of such associations and memory in the RSC remain unclear. To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying these processes, RSC neurons and local field potentials (LFPs) were simultaneously recorded from well-trained rats performing a cue-reward association task. In the task, simultaneous presentation of two multimodal conditioned stimuli (configural CSs) predicted a reward outcome opposite to that associated with the individual presentation of each elemental CS. Here, we show neurophysiological evidence that the RSC is involved in stimulus-stimulus association where configural CSs are discriminated from each elementary CS that is a constituent of the configural CSs, and that memory retrieval of rewarding CSs is associated with theta oscillation of RSC neurons during CS presentation, which is phase-locked to LFP theta cycles. The results suggest that cue (elementary and configural CSs)-reinforcement associations are stored in the RSC neural circuits, and are retrieved in synchronization with LFP theta rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Yoshida
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Choijiljav Chinzorig
- Department of System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.,Department of Physiology, School of Bio-medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Jumpei Matsumoto
- Department of System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishimaru
- Department of System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.,Graduate School of Innovative Life Science, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science (RCIBS), University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Taketoshi Ono
- Department of System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Mitsuaki Yamazaki
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Hisao Nishijo
- Department of System Emotional Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.,Graduate School of Innovative Life Science, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.,Research Center for Idling Brain Science (RCIBS), University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
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Fournier DI, Monasch RR, Bucci DJ, Todd TP. Retrosplenial cortex damage impairs unimodal sensory preconditioning. Behav Neurosci 2020; 134:198-207. [PMID: 32150422 PMCID: PMC7244381 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is positioned at the interface between cortical sensory regions and the structures that compose the medial temporal lobe memory system. It has recently been suggested that 1 functional role of the RSC involves the formation of associations between cues in the environment (stimulus-stimulus [S-S] learning; Bucci & Robinson, 2014). This suggestion is based, in part, on the finding that lesions or temporary inactivation of the RSC impair sensory preconditioning. However, all prior studies examining the role of the RSC in sensory preconditioning have used cues from multiple modalities (both visual and auditory stimuli). The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether the RSC contributes to unimodal sensory preconditioning. In the present study we found that both electrolytic and neurotoxic lesions of the RSC impaired sensory preconditioning with auditory cues. Together with previous experiments, these findings indicate that the RSC contributes to both multisensory and unimodal sensory integration, which suggests a general role for the RSC in linking sensory cues in the environment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Todd TP, Fournier DI, Bucci DJ. Retrosplenial cortex and its role in cue-specific learning and memory. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:713-728. [PMID: 31055014 PMCID: PMC6906080 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) contributes to spatial navigation, as well as contextual learning and memory. However, a growing body of research suggests that the RSC also contributes to learning and memory for discrete cues, such as auditory or visual stimuli. In this review, we summarize and assess the Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning experiments that have examined the role of the RSC in cue-specific learning and memory. We use the term cue-specific to refer to these putatively non-spatial conditioning paradigms that involve discrete cues. Although these paradigms emphasize behavior related to cue presentations, we note that cue-specific learning and memory always takes place against a background of contextual stimuli. We review multiple ways by which contexts can influence responding to discrete cues and suggest that RSC contributions to cue-specific learning and memory are intimately tied to contextual learning and memory. Indeed, although the RSC is involved in several forms of cue-specific learning and memory, we suggest that many of these can be linked to processing of contextual stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis P Todd
- Dartmouth College, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 6207 Moore Hall, NH, 03755, USA.
| | - Danielle I Fournier
- Dartmouth College, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 6207 Moore Hall, NH, 03755, USA
| | - David J Bucci
- Dartmouth College, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 6207 Moore Hall, NH, 03755, USA
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Nelson AJD, Hindley EL, Vann SD, Aggleton JP. When is the rat retrosplenial cortex required for stimulus integration? Behav Neurosci 2018; 132:366-377. [PMID: 30321026 PMCID: PMC6188469 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The rodent retrosplenial cortex is known to be vital for spatial cognition, but evidence has also pointed to a role in processing nonspatial information. It has been suggested that the retrosplenial cortex may serve as a site of integration of incoming sensory information. To examine this proposal, the current set of experiments assessed the impact of excitotoxic lesions in the retrosplenial cortex on two behavioral tasks that tax animals' ability to process multiple and overlapping environmental stimuli. In Experiment 1, rats with retrosplenial lesions acquired a negative patterning discrimination, a form of configural learning that can be solved only by learning the conjunction of cues. Subsequent transfer tests confirmed that both the lesion and control animals had solved the task by using configural representations. Furthermore, in Experiment 2, a 2nd cohort of retrosplenial lesion animals successfully acquired conditioned inhibition. Nevertheless, the same animals failed a subsequent summation test that assesses the ability to transfer what has been learned about one stimulus to another stimulus in the absence of reinforcement. Taken together, these results suggest that in the nonspatial domain, the retrosplenial cortex is not required for forming associations between multiple or overlapping environmental stimuli and, consequently, retrosplenial engagement in such processes is more selective than was previously envisaged. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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Todd TP, Jiang MY, DeAngeli NE, Bucci DJ. A functional circuit for the retrieval of remote cued fear memory. Behav Neurosci 2018; 132:403-408. [PMID: 29863370 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is necessary for the retrieval of remotely acquired fear to a discrete auditory cue, it is not necessary for the retrieval of recently acquired cued-fear memories. Thus, the RSC's role in memory retrieval for discrete cues is time-dependent. The purpose of the current experiment was to identify the larger cortical circuit involved in the retrieval of remotely-acquired auditory fear memories. One candidate circuit involves the RSC and secondary auditory cortex; the secondary auditory cortex is also necessary for the retrieval of remotely acquired auditory fear memories (Sacco & Sacchetti, 2010), and sends direct projections to the RSC. To test this possibility, we assessed retrieval of remote memory following functional disconnection of the RSC and secondary auditory cortex. Complete disconnection of these regions produced a larger impairment in fear expression to a remotely acquired auditory cue compared to partial disconnection of these regions. These results are consistent with the notion that RSC and secondary auditory cortex form a functional circuit involved in the retrieval of remotely acquired fear to a discrete auditory cue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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