Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima-shi 739-8521, Hiroshima-ken, Japan.
Behav Brain Res. 2013 Jan 15;237:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.09.013. Epub 2012 Sep 14.
This study examined configural association theory and conflict resolution models in relation to hippocampal neural activity during positive patterning tasks. According to configural association theory, the hippocampus is important for responses to compound stimuli in positive patterning tasks. In contrast, according to the conflict resolution model, the hippocampus is important for responses to single stimuli in positive patterning tasks. We hypothesized that if configural association theory is applicable, and not the conflict resolution model, the hippocampal theta power should be increased when compound stimuli are presented. If, on the other hand, the conflict resolution model is applicable, but not configural association theory, then the hippocampal theta power should be increased when single stimuli are presented. If both models are valid and applicable in the positive patterning task, we predict that the hippocampal theta power should be increased by presentation of both compound and single stimuli during the positive patterning task. To examine our hypotheses, we measured hippocampal theta power in rats during a positive patterning task. The results showed that hippocampal theta power increased during the presentation of a single stimulus, but did not increase during the presentation of a compound stimulus. This finding suggests that the conflict resolution model is more applicable than the configural association theory for describing neural activity during positive patterning tasks.
本研究考察了关联理论和冲突解决模型在正模式任务中与海马体神经活动的关系。根据关联理论，海马体对于正模式任务中对复合刺激的反应很重要。相比之下，根据冲突解决模型，海马体对于正模式任务中对单一刺激的反应很重要。我们假设，如果关联理论适用，而不是冲突解决模型适用，那么在呈现复合刺激时，海马体θ功率应该增加。另一方面，如果冲突解决模型适用，而不是关联理论适用，那么在呈现单一刺激时，海马体θ功率应该增加。如果这两个模型在正模式任务中都是有效的和适用的，那么我们预测在正模式任务中呈现复合和单一刺激都会增加海马体θ功率。为了检验我们的假设，我们在大鼠的正模式任务中测量了海马体θ功率。结果表明，在呈现单一刺激时，海马体θ功率增加，但在呈现复合刺激时没有增加。这一发现表明，冲突解决模型比关联理论更适用于描述正模式任务中的神经活动。
