SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY, PLACE CELLS AND SPATIAL MEMORY - STUDY WITH 2ND GENERATION KNOCKOUTS

The use of genetically engineered mice has been a major development in neuroscience research. Genetic engineering is an undoubtedly powerful technique; however, the value of this approach has been debated, part icularly in relation to its use to probe the underlying bases of compl ex behaviors, such as memory. A recent new development of the techniqu e is the ability to target a specific gene knockout to a particular su bregion or even to specific and limited cell types of the mouse brain. An example of this approach is the knockout of the NMDARI gene in onl y ICA I-pyramidal cells of the hippocampus. The resulting animals can be tested by several methods, including in vivo multielectrode recordi ng during behavioral tasks. The data provide strong evidence in favor of the notion that NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity at CAI synapses is required for both the acquisition of spatial memory and th e formation of normal CAI place fields,This relationship suggests that robust place fields may be essential for spatial memory.