Inactivation of the striatum in aged rats rescues their ability to learn a hippocampus-sensitive spatial navigation task

Robert S. Gardner, Paul E. Gold, Donna L. Korol

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Studies of age-related changes in learning and memory often focus on hippocampus-sensitive tasks and reveal age-associated impairments across numerous species and contexts. However, cognitive decline with advanced age is not all-encompassing; for example, forms of striatum-sensitive learning are conserved or enhanced with age. Under certain conditions, hippocampal and striatal memory systems function in opposition. In young adult rodents, disruption of one structure can enhance learning on tasks dependent on the other, suggesting that competitive interactions across memory systems contribute to learning and memory abilities. This report examines whether imbalances across memory systems might contribute to cognitive aging. We inactivated the striatum using central infusions of lidocaine (sodium channel blocker) prior to hippocampus-sensitive spatial (place) training in young (3–4-month-old) and old (24–25-month-old) F344 male rats. Consistent with prior work, vehicle-infused old rats exhibited place learning impairments relative to young rats. Additionally, striatal inactivation enhanced learning in old rats, but not young rats, abolishing the age-related impairment. These findings suggest that age-related declines in learning tasks thought to engage the hippocampus may stem from exaggerated interference from other memory systems and that interventions to target the striatum may reverse some age-related learning decrements.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number107231
JournalNeurobiology of Learning and Memory
Volume172
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Hippocampus
  • Lidocaine
  • Memory modulation
  • Memory system competition
  • Spatial learning
  • Striatum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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