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Damage to the magnocellular mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDmc) in the human brain is associated with both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. In the present study we made selective neurotoxic MDmc lesions in rhesus monkeys and compared the effects of these lesions on memory acquisition and retrieval. Monkeys learned 300 unique scene discriminations preoperatively and retention was assessed in a one-trial preoperative retrieval test. Bilateral neurotoxic lesions of the MDmc, produced by 10 x 1 microl injections of a mixture of ibotenate and NMDA did not affect performance in the postoperative one-trial retrieval test. In contrast, new postoperative learning of a further 100 novel scene discriminations was substantially impaired. Thus, MDmc is required for new learning of scene discriminations but not for their retention and retrieval. This finding is the first evidence that MDmc plays a specific role in memory acquisition.

Original publication

DOI

10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4922-07.2008

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neurosci

Publication Date

02/01/2008

Volume

28

Pages

258 - 263

Keywords

Animals, Behavior, Animal, Discrimination Learning, Macaca mulatta, Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus, Mental Recall, Photic Stimulation, Retention (Psychology)