Abstract:
Vertebrate hippocampal formation is central to conversations on the comparative analysis of spatial cognition, especially in light of variation found in different vertebrate classes. Assuming the medial pallium (MP) of extant amphibians resembles the hippocampal formation (HF) of ancestral stem tetrapods, we propose that the HF of modern amniotes began with a MP characterized by a relatively undifferentiated cytoarchitecture, more direct thalamic/olfactory sensory inputs, and a more generalized role in associative learning-memory processes. As such, hippocampal evolution in amniotes, especially mammals, can be seen as progressing toward a cytoarchitecture with well-defined subdivisions, regional connectivity, and a functional specialization supporting map-like representations of space. We then summarize a growing literature on amphibian spatial cognition and its underlying brain organization. Emphasizing the MP/HF, we highlight that further research into amphibian spatial cognition would provide novel insight into the role of the HF in spatial memory processes, and their supporting neural mechanisms. A more complete reconstruction of hippocampal evolution would benefit from additional research on non-mammalian vertebrates, with amphibians being of particular interest.
摘要:
脊椎动物海马结构是空间认知比较分析对话的核心,特别是在不同脊椎动物类别中发现的变异。假设现存两栖动物的内侧皮层(MP)类似于祖先茎四足动物的海马结构(HF),我们认为,现代羊膜的HF始于MP,其特征是相对未分化的细胞结构,更直接的丘脑/嗅觉感觉输入,以及在联想学习记忆过程中更广泛的作用。因此,羊膜中的海马进化,尤其是哺乳动物,可以被视为朝着具有明确细分的细胞架构发展,区域连通性,和支持地图般的空间表示的功能专业化。然后,我们总结了有关两栖动物空间认知及其潜在大脑组织的越来越多的文献。强调MP/HF,我们强调,对两栖动物空间认知的进一步研究将为HF在空间记忆过程中的作用提供新的见解,以及它们的支持神经机制。更完整的海马进化重建将受益于对非哺乳动物脊椎动物的额外研究,两栖动物特别感兴趣。