Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00457

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Noradrenaline causes a spread of association in the hippocampal cognitive map.

Koolschijn, R. S. ; Parthasarathy, P. ; Browning, M. ; Przygodda, X.DZNE* ; Capitão, L. P. ; Clarke, W. T. ; Vogels, T. P. ; O'Reilly, J. X. ; Barron, H. C.

2026
Springer Nature [London]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70659-x

Abstract: The mammalian brain organises knowledge about entities in the world and relationships between them using cognitive maps. When forming a cognitive map, there is a necessary trade-off between extending the map to make novel inferences, and storing a veridical copy of past experience. However, the neural mechanisms that control this trade-off remain unknown. Using a cross-scale approach that combines a pharmacological intervention in humans with neural network modelling, we show that the neuromodulator noradrenaline elicits a significant 'spread of association' across hippocampal cognitive maps. This neural spread of association can be explained by changes in synaptic plasticity that predict overgeneralisation in behaviour. Thus, elevated noradrenaline during learning increases the 'smoothing kernel' for plasticity across the cognitive map, allowing disparate memories to become linked and distorted.

Keyword(s): Norepinephrine: metabolism (MeSH) ; Norepinephrine: pharmacology (MeSH) ; Hippocampus: physiology (MeSH) ; Hippocampus: drug effects (MeSH) ; Cognition: physiology (MeSH) ; Cognition: drug effects (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Neuronal Plasticity: physiology (MeSH) ; Neuronal Plasticity: drug effects (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Memory: physiology (MeSH) ; Memory: drug effects (MeSH) ; Learning: physiology (MeSH) ; Adult (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Brain Mapping (MeSH) ; Models, Neurological (MeSH) ; Young Adult (MeSH) ; Norepinephrine

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Neurophysiology and Memory (AG Düzel)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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