Cognition Without Cortex: Rapid Learning, Generalization, and Long-Term Memory in Acortical Mice

Society for Neuroscience 2025

This presentation asks whether neocortex and hippocampus are essential for rodent learning, memory, and cognitive flexibility. Using a binary-choice labyrinth and the Manhattan Maze, a reconfigurable arena spanning 2¹²¹ possible maps, the project compares wildtype mice with acortical mice born without the dorsal forebrain. Acortical mice are impaired during the early exploration phase, but retain rapid route exploitation, long-term memory, and generalization across novel maze configurations.

Original event page

Presented in the Early Career Poster Session on November 15, 2025, and the regular SfN poster session on November 19, 2025. The presentation was partially supported by the SfN Trainee Professional Development Award.