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The hippocampus uses information just encountered to guide efficient ongoing behavior
Journal article   Open access

The hippocampus uses information just encountered to guide efficient ongoing behavior

Lydia T.S Yee, David E Warren, Joel L Voss, Melissa C Duff, Daniel Tranel and Neal J Cohen
Hippocampus, Vol.24(2), pp.154-164
02/2014
DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22211
PMCID: PMC3920827
PMID: 24123615
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http://doi.org/10.1002/hipo.22211View
Open Access

Abstract

Adaptive ongoing behavior requires using immediate sensory input to guide upcoming actions. Using a novel paradigm with volitional exploration of visuo-spatial scenes, we revealed novel deficits among hippocampal amnesic patients in effective spatial exploration of scenes, indicated by less systematic exploration patterns than those of healthy comparison subjects. The disorganized exploration by amnesic patients occurred despite successful retention of individual object locations across the entire exploration period, indicating that exploration impairments were not secondary to rapid decay of scene information. These exploration deficits suggest that amnesic patients are impaired in integrating memory for recent actions, which may include information such as locations just visited and scene content, to plan immediately forthcoming actions. By utilizing a novel task that measured the on-line links between sensory input and behavior, we observed the critical role of the hippocampus in modulating ongoing behavior.
binding navigation short-term memory spatial memory strategic control

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