Site Updated: 9/9/2018

Research Overview

In the Griffin Lab, we are interested in the neural basis of learning and memory. The hippocampus has been shown to be crucial for episodic memory, but also plays a larger role in a system of brain structures that allow for memory-guided behavior. Of particular interest is the medial prefrontal cortex, which receives direct projections from hippocampus and is thought to use retrieved memories to construct a plan of action during task performance and to aid in memory consolidation following learning. Utilizing the technique of in vivo electrophysiology in conjunction with inactivation of discrete brain regions, we hope to answer questions about the nature of interplay between key structures known to be involved in learning and memory processes. Understanding the nature of complex cognitive processes such as learning and memory will have important implications, including the possible treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia.