The role of hippocampus in central auditory processing - An optogenetic auditory fMRI study

Abstract

Hearing is not just a sensory process as it plays pivotal roles in enabling communication, and memory and learning functions. This indicates that auditory processing is not confined within the central auditory pathways and likely involves higher-order cognitive structures such as hippocampus, which at present remains poorly understood. Here, we employed combined optogenetic and auditory fMRI in rats to investigate whether auditory processing can be influenced by hippocampal inputs. We reveal the specific role of ventral hippocampus in influencing auditory processing of behaviorally relevant sound across the entire central auditory pathways.