What Can Hippocampal Engrams Tell Us About Encoding Spatial Navigation?

The hippocampus is indispensable for episodic memories, but its particular role in the process is still unclear. This chapter briefly overviews past studies focusing on place cells and memory engrams, highlighting their potential roles in spatial navigation. Future work reconciling these two lines of studies would provide a comprehensive view of the specific contribution of the hippocampus and a better understanding of how memory engrams support memory.

Egg Model Training Protocol for Stereotaxic Neurosurgery and Microelectrode Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Neuroscience research uses neurosurgery in animal models for several experimental techniques. To our knowledge, there is no published method for small animal neurosurgery training. Based on the similar thickness of chicken eggshells and mouse, rat, and some small primate skulls, here we propose an egg model training protocol for stereotaxic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To perform training it was used a boiled egg and the same materials needed to perform stereotaxic neurosurgery in small animals. DISCUSSION: This protocol allows trainees in neuroscience research to become familiar with the microsurgery setting and learn neurosurgery techniques, such as craniotomy drilling, dura mater removal, and electrode implantation. CONCLUSION: Egg model suitably mimics animal neurosurgery for the replacement and sparing of animals intended for training in neurosurgical skills.