Work

Reconciling neuronal representations of schema, abstract task structure, and categorization under cognitive maps in the entorhinal-hippocampal-frontal circuits

Year: 2022

Type: review

Abstract: Learning leads to a neuronal representation of acquired knowledge. This idea of knowledge representation was traditionally developed as a "cognitive map" of spatial memory represented in the hippocampus. The framework of cognitive mapping has been extended in the past decade to include not only spatial memory, but also non-spatial factual and temporal memory. Following this conceptual advancement, a line of recent neurophysiological research discovered such knowledge representations not only in the hippocampus, but also in the entorhinal cortex and frontal cortex. Although the distinct terms "cognitive map," "schema," "abstract task structure" or "categorization" were used in these studies, it is likely that these terms can be reconciled as a common mechanism of learned knowledge representations. Future experimental work will be required to differentiate the parametric nature of knowledge representations across brain areas.

Source: Current Opinion in Neurobiology

DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102641

Authors: Kei M. Igarashi, Jason Y. Lee, Heechul Jun

Institution: University of California, Irvine

Language: English

Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,350