Impaired Recognition Memory in Monkeys after Damage Limited to the Hippocampal Region

Stuart M. Zola, Larry R. Squire, Edmond Teng, Lisa Stefanacci, Elizabeth A. Buffalo et al.

Journal of Neuroscience • 2000

View Abstract

Monkeys with lesions limited to the hippocampal region (the hippocampus proper, the dentate gyrus, and the subiculum) were impaired on two tasks of recognition memory: delayed nonmatching to sample and the visual paired-comparison task. Recognition memory was impaired in five different groups of monkeys, whether the lesions were made by an ischemic procedure, by radio frequency, or by ibotenic acid. The finding that the hippocampal region is essential for normal recognition memory performance is considered in the context of current ideas about the role of the hippocampus in declarative memory.

Visual Paired-Comparison Task

behavioralmonkey

Objective: Test recognition memory in monkeys by measuring their ability to recognize and prefer novel objects over familiar ones

Protocol Steps

Visual Paired-Comparison Task Setup

Monkeys are presented with visual stimuli in a paired-comparison format to assess recognition memory

Note: This is a recognition memory task measuring preference for novel objects over familiar ones

View evidence from paper

“the visual paired-comparison task”

Test Recognition Memory

Monkeys are tested on their ability to recognize and prefer novel objects over familiar ones

Note: Task measures recognition memory performance

View evidence from paper

“Monkeys with lesions limited to the hippocampal region were impaired on two tasks of recognition memory: delayed nonmatching to sample and the visual paired-comparison task”