Comparative Contemplations on the Hippocampus

2017/01/01 by Menno P. Witter, Heidi Kleven, Asgeir Kobro Flatmoen +1 · 38 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Biology #Hippocampal formation #Hippocampus #Memory and Neural Mechanisms #Neuroscience #Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research #Vertebrate #Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications

paper · open access · doi:10.1159/000475703

published in Brain Behavior and Evolution 90(1), 15-24 (Karger Publishers)

openalex publication_date 2017/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

The hippocampus in mammals is a morphologically well-defined structure, and so are its main subdivisions. To define the homologous structure in other vertebrate clades, using these morphological criteria has been difficult, if not impossible, since the typical mammalian morphology is absent. Although there seems to be consensus that the most medial part of the pallium represents the hippocampus in all vertebrates, there is no consensus on whether all mammalian hippocampal subdivisions are present in the derivatives of the medial pallium in all vertebrate groups. The aim of this paper is to explore the potential relevance of connections to define the hippocampus across vertebrates, with a focus on mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Citations

• The hippocampus as a spatial map. Preliminary evidence from unit activity in the freely-moving rat

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