Summary
This study, together with a parallel study in rats (Markowska et al. 1988), attempted to relate the effects of hippocampal-system damage on similar tasks in both rats and monkeys. Not only were monkeys given a task (Experiment 1) which was of the sort usually used with rats, but in the companion study rats were given tasks (Experiment 2) like those usually used with monkeys. Experiment 1 examined the performance of rhesus monkeys with hippocampal-system damage on a spatial working memory task. Monkeys were trained preoperatively on delayed nonmatching-to-sample in a T-maze, placed into groups matched for their preoperative learning scores, and then received one of three treatments: 1) transection of the fornix; 2) ablation of the cingulate cortex; or 3) a sham operation. Monkeys with fornix transection were severely and significantly impaired, but monkeys with cingulate cortical ablations were not significantly impaired, relative to the controls. The results demonstrate that monkeys with fornix transection are severely impaired on a spatial working memory task requiring locomotion and, taken together with earlier work, suggest that the effect of fornix transection in both rodents and nonhuman primates is at least qualitatively similar (see Markowska et al. 1988). Experiment 2 assessed the role of the fornix and cingulate cortex in three conditional tasks in which the monkeys were provided with various spatial cues to indicate which one of two objects was rewarded. Both experimental groups were unimpaired, relative to the control group, on all three tasks, indicating that fornix transection does not produce a general impairment in place learning.
We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.
Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.
References
Aggleton JP, Hunt PR, Rawlins JNP (1986) The effects of hippocampal lesions upon spatial and non-spatial tests of working memory. Behav Brain Res 19: 133–136
Bachevalier J, Saunders RC, Mishkin M (1985) Visual recognition in monkeys: effects of transection of fornix. Exp Brain Res 57: 547–553
Baleydier C, Mauguiere F (1980) The duality of the cingulate gyrus in monkey. Brain 103: 525–554
Delay J, Brion S (1969) Le syndrome de Korsakoff. Masson, Paris
Gaffan D (1972) Loss of recognition memory in rats with lesions of the fornix. Neuropsychologia 10: 327–341
Gaffan D (1974) Recognition impaired and association intact in the memory of monkeys after transection of the fornix. J Comp Physiol Psychol 86: 1100–1109
Gaffan D, Harrison S (1988a) A comparison of the effects of fornix transection and sulcus principalis ablation upon spatial learning by monkeys. Behav Brain Res (in press)
Gaffan D, Harrison S (1988b) Place memory and scene memory: effects of fornix transection in the monkey. Exp Brain Res 74: 202–212
Gaffan D, Saunders RC (1985) Running recognition of configural stimuli by fornix-transected monkeys. Q J Exp Psychol 37B: 61–71
Gaffan D, Saunders RC, Gaffan EA, Harrison S, Shields C, Owen MJ (1984a) Effects of fornix transection upon associative memory in monkeys: role of the hippocampus in learned action. Q J Exp Psychol 36B: 173–221
Gaffan D, Gaffan EA, Harrison S (1984b) Effects of fornix transection on spontaneous and trained non-matching by monkeys. Q J Exp Psychol 36B: 285–303
Gaffan EA, Davies J (1982) Reward, novelty and spontaneous alternation. Q J Exp Psychol 34B: 31–47
Jarrard LE, Okaichi H, Steward O, Goldschmidt RB (1984) On the role of hippocampal connections in the performance of place and cue tasks: comparisons with damage to hippocampus. Behav Neurosci 98: 946–954
Mahut H (1972) A selective spatial deficit in monkeys after transection of the fornix. Neuropsychologia 10: 65–74
Mahut H, Zola SM (1973) A non-modality specific impairment in spatial learning after fornix lesions in monkeys. Neuropsychologia 11: 255–269
Markowska AL, Olton DS, Murray EA, Gaffan D (1988) A comparative analysis of the role of fornix and cingulate cortex in memory: rats. Exp Brain Res 74: 187–201
Mishkin M, Delacour J (1975) An analysis of short-term visual memory in the monkey. J Exp Psychol 1: 326–334
Morris RGM, Garrud P, Rawlins JNP, O'Keefe J (1982) Place navigation impaired in rats with hippocampal lesions. Nature 297: 681–683
O'Keefe J, Nadel L (1978) The hippocampus as a cognitive map. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Olton DS, Feustle WA (1981) Hippocampal function required for nonspatial working memory. Exp Brain Res 41: 380–389
Olton DS, Papas B (1979) Spatial working memory and hippocampal function. Neuropsychologia 17: 669–682
Olton DS, Schlosberg P (1978) Food searching strategies in young rats: win-shift predominates over win-stay. J Comp Physiol Psychol 92: 609–618
Olton DS, Becker JT, Handelmann GE (1979) Hippocampus, space and memory. Behav Brain Sci 2: 313–365
Parkinson JK, Murray EA, Mishkin M (1988) A selective mnemonic role for the hippocampus in monkeys: memory for the location of objects. J Neurosci (in press)
Raffaele KC, Olton DS (1988) Hippocampal and amygdaloid interaction in working memory for nonspatial stimuli. Behav Neurosci 102: 349–355
Rupniak NMJ, Gaffan D (1987) Monkey hippocampus and learning about spatially directed movements. J Neurosci 7: 2331–2337
Stanton ME, Thomas GJ, Brito GNO (1984) Posterodorsal septal lesions impair performance on both shift and stay working memory tasks. Behav Neurosci 98: 405–415
Thomas GJ, Spafford PS (1984) Deficits for representational memory induced by septal and cortical lesions (singly and combined) in rats. Behav Neurosci 98: 394–404
Vogt BA, Pandya DN, Rosene DL (1987) Cingulate cortex of the rhesus monkey. I. Cytoarchitecture and thalamic afferents. J Comp Neurol 262: 256–270
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Murray, E.A., Davidson, M., Gaffan, D. et al. Effects of fornix transection and cingulate cortical ablation on spatial memory in rhesus monkeys. Exp Brain Res 74, 173–186 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248291
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248291