Neural topography and chronology of memory consolidation: A review of functional inactivation findings

Findings on the role of subcortical and cortical structures in mnemonic pro cesses, obtained by means of the reversible functional inactivation techniq ue, are reviewed. The main advantage of this method (subcortical or cortica l administration of local anesthetics or tetrodotoxin) is that it provides information not only on '"where" but also "when" and for "how long" these p rocesses take place, thus adding to the topographical dimension the chronol ogical one. The review covers several types of memory (e.g., passive avoida nce and spatial memory) studies examining the neural substrates of memory c onsolidation on the basis of the functional inactivation of the nucleus of the solitary tract, parabrachial nuclei, substantia nigra, hippocampus (dor sal and ventral), nucleus basalis magnocellularis, amygdala, medial septal area, striatum, olfactory bulb, and neocortex. The data are discussed in re lation to earlier research and with respect to the anatomical and functiona l connectivity of the examined centers. (C) 1999 Academic Press.