CA3 network pattern separation can occur in the absence of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus

AN Y; LEUTGEB J. K.; SCHLENNER A; CAMERON H.A.; PIATTI, V. C.; LEUTGEB S.

Irvine

Congreso; Conference on Learning and Memory; 2018

Immature neurons in the dentate gyrus are thought to be essential for behaviors that require separation between similar patterns. To test the underlying network mechanisms, we used a transgenic rat strain in which neurogenesis is completely ablated. In these rats, we took advantage of the finding that CA3 principal neurons respond to similar sets of novel sensory cues. By comparing the activity of CA3 with and without neurogenesis in this paradigm, we observed no effect on the stability of place fields or pattern separation. However, neurogenesis dependent differences in baseline firing rates were observed. These results suggest a modulatory role of immature neurons on the CA3 network, but not a critical role for network pattern separation.