Network-related Firing Patterns of Hippocampal Interneurons In Vivo

The hippocampal formation is important for acquisition of short-term memory, the recall of episodic memory and spatial navigation. Oscillatory brain activity at various frequencies are believed to be essential for these behaviours. In the hippocampus two classes of neurons can be distinguished: pyramidal cells and interneurons. The pyramidal cells are output cells releasing excitatory amino acid(s) as transmitter. Interneurons are inhibitory local-circuit neurons that control and regulate input, computation, and output of pyramidal cells. The interneurons can be further divided into subclasses. In the present project the activity of interneurons will be recorded in anesthetized rats during behavioural relevant oscillations and the identity of the interneurons will be determined afterwards with anatomical methods. This might provide important information on the mechanism of oscillations in the brain and on the neuronal correlates of memory formation.