Integrative functions of the retrosplenial cortex in rats: anatomy, connectomics, and cellular electrophysiology

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Abstract

Current review is focused on the integrative functions of the retrosplenial cortex, which neurons are largely involved in spatial orientation and ambulation of an organism. We discuss anatomy and connectivity of the retrosplenial cortex in rats as well as the most recent findings concerning the behavioral specialization of its neurons observed using multielectrode recordings. Pattern of connections of the retrosplenial cortex allows to consider its interfacing role in linking brain regions specifically involved in spatial navigation and memory with areas of the associative cortex which lack spatial tuning. In this paper, we touch upon that unique anatomical connectivity which is reflected in the peculiar behavioral specialization of the retrosplenial cortex neurons. Complex spatial tuning of retrosplenial neurons is likely to represent the association of spatial and nonspatial information, and provides a clue to principles of information integration in the cerebral cortex.

About the authors

Olga A. Mineeva

P.K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

Author for correspondence.
Email: o.mineyeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow; Dolgoprudny

Dmitrii V. Bezryadnov

P.K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

Email: o.mineyeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow; Dolgoprudny

Sergey A. Chekhov

P.K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology

Email: o.mineyeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

Оlga E. Svarnik

Institute of Psychology of Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: o.mineyeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

Konstantin V. Anokhin

P.K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology; National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute"; M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: o.mineyeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

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