Shared Functions of Perirhinal and Parahippocampal Cortices: Implications for Cognitive Aging

Sara N Burke; Leslie S Gaynor; Carol A Barnes; Russell M Bauer; Jennifer L Bizon; Erik D Roberson; Lee Ryan

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2018.03.001

Shared Functions of Perirhinal and Parahippocampal Cortices: Implications for Cognitive Aging

Trends Neurosci. 2018 Jun;41(6):349-359. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.03.001. Epub 2018 Mar 16.

Authors

Sara N Burke¹, Leslie S Gaynor², Carol A Barnes³, Russell M Bauer⁴, Jennifer L Bizon⁵, Erik D Roberson⁶, Lee Ryan⁷

Affiliations

¹ McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: burkes@ufl.edu.
² McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
³ Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Neural Systems Memory and Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
⁴ Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁵ McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁶ Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Alzheimer's Disease Center, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁷ Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. Electronic address: ryant@email.arizona.edu.

Abstract

A predominant view of perirhinal cortex (PRC) and postrhinal/parahippocampal cortex (POR/PHC) function contends that these structures are tuned to represent objects and spatial information, respectively. However, known anatomical connectivity, together with recent electrophysiological, neuroimaging, and lesion data, indicate that both brain areas participate in spatial and nonspatial processing. Instead of content-based organization, the PRC and PHC/POR may participate in two computationally distinct cortical-hippocampal networks: one network that is tuned to process coarse information quickly, forming gist-like representations of scenes/environments, and a second network tuned to process information about the specific sensory details that are necessary for discrimination across sensory modalities. The available data suggest that the latter network may be more vulnerable in advanced age.

Keywords: MRI; entorhinal cortex; hippocampus; memory; postrhinal cortex; process model.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Animals
Cognition / physiology*
Cognitive Aging*
Humans
Neural Pathways / physiology
Parahippocampal Gyrus / physiology*
Perirhinal Cortex / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding