Spatial memory is important in allowing animals to optimize navigation of their environment, increasing their odds of survival and reproduction. Within the brain, a range of structures have been found to participate in spatial memory including the hippocampus, parietal cortex, entorhinal cortex, retrosplenial cortex, perirhinal cortex, and parts of the diencephalon. Examining the acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of spatial memories is possible using simple and more complex navigation tasks, such as the Morris water maze, 8-arm radial maze, Barnes maze, Y maze, and object location, a spatial version of object recognition. Such navigation tasks can be used to improve understanding of spatial memory acquisition, consolidation and retrieval processes, alongside the modulatory influences of endocrine control, developmental stage, and emotional state.
This Research Topic aims to improve current understanding of spatial memory, in both human, and non-human species across the lifespan. All article types accepted by the Journal are welcome, and important sub-topics of interest include:
· Understanding molecular mechanisms of spatial memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval.
· Early life exposure (e.g. stress, drugs, toxins) and subsequent impacts on spatial memory.
· Novel experimental techniques to measure spatial memory.
· Differences in spatial memory between populations (e.g. sex, age, breed, species).
· Brain regions, networks, and neurotransmitters involved in short and long term spatial learning and memory.
Spatial memory is important in allowing animals to optimize navigation of their environment, increasing their odds of survival and reproduction. Within the brain, a range of structures have been found to participate in spatial memory including the hippocampus, parietal cortex, entorhinal cortex, retrosplenial cortex, perirhinal cortex, and parts of the diencephalon. Examining the acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of spatial memories is possible using simple and more complex navigation tasks, such as the Morris water maze, 8-arm radial maze, Barnes maze, Y maze, and object location, a spatial version of object recognition. Such navigation tasks can be used to improve understanding of spatial memory acquisition, consolidation and retrieval processes, alongside the modulatory influences of endocrine control, developmental stage, and emotional state.
This Research Topic aims to improve current understanding of spatial memory, in both human, and non-human species across the lifespan. All article types accepted by the Journal are welcome, and important sub-topics of interest include:
· Understanding molecular mechanisms of spatial memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval.
· Early life exposure (e.g. stress, drugs, toxins) and subsequent impacts on spatial memory.
· Novel experimental techniques to measure spatial memory.
· Differences in spatial memory between populations (e.g. sex, age, breed, species).
· Brain regions, networks, and neurotransmitters involved in short and long term spatial learning and memory.
