Contributions of the rodent cingulate-retrosplenial cortical axis to associative learning and memory: A proposed circuit for persistent memory maintenance

Abstract

While the anterior cingulate (ACC) and retrosplenial (RSC) cortices have been extensively studied for their role in spatial navigation, less is known about how they contribute to associative learning and later memory recall. The limited work that has been conducted on this topic suggests that each of these cortical regions makes distinct, but similar contributions to associative learning and memory. Here, we review evidence from the rodent literature demonstrating that while ACC activity seems to be necessary at remote time points associated with imprecise or generalized memories, the role of the RSC seems to be uniform over time. Together, the lines of evidence reviewed here suggest that the ACC and RSC likely function together to support memory formation and maintenance following associative learning.

Keywords: Anterior cingulate; Learning; Memory; Recent; Remote; Retrosplenial.

Figure 1.

Proposed circuit-level model of the types of memory supported by each subregion along the anterior cingulate-retrosplenial cortical axis. Precise fear memories tested at recent timepoints from conditioning often require RSC-HF synchronization. The requirement for HF activity to recall memories is transient and decreases over time, a phenomenon linked to systems consolidation. During this time, the memory becomes less precise and requires ACC activity. The RSC is optimally positioned to trigger the transition of hippocampal-dependent to ACC-dependent memories through its reciprocal connectivity and the ongoing requirement for RSC activity in complex forms of memory.