STIMULUS-EVOKED RESETTING OF THE DENTATE THETA-RHYTHM - RELATION TO WORKING-MEMORY

THE relationship between memory and rhythmic neural activity in the de ntate gyrus was investigated by analyzing spontaneous dentate field po tentials in rats performing either a working or reference memory task. The baseline level of rhythmic theta activity was similar in both gro ups. Following an initial negative potential in the sensory-evoked res ponse, a resetting of the rhythmic activity which was time-locked to t he stimulus onset was observed in rats performing the working memory t ask, but not in rats performing the reference memory task. The results suggest that the resetting of the theta rhythm by behaviorally-releva nt stimuli may have an important role in working memory.