This action is to support research at an undergraduate institution which concentrates on learning and memory at the cellular level. The hippocampus is a part of the brain which is known for its involvement in learning and memory. The studies proposed by Dr. Julio Ramirez will evaluate the behavioral significance of sprouting in the intricate layers of the hippocampus after cortical lesions. Two criteria will be used to assess whether the sprouting is behaviorally meaningful: 1) The time course of the reinnervation must parallel the time course of the behavioral recovery; and 2) Systematic manipulation of the sprouted fibers must produce a concomitant change in behavior. Because of the employment of anatomical and behavioral techniques this project will provide fundamental knowledge about the functional significance of sprouting in the central nervous system.
