Recognition memory for social and non-social odors: Differential effects of neurotoxic lesions to the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex

► Rats form recognition memories for social and non-social odors in one trial. ► Complete hippocampal lesions do not affect odor recognition memory. ► Perirhinal cortex lesions impair social but not non-social odor recognition memory. ► Perirhinal cortex lesions do not impair the perception of social odors. ► Perirhinal cortex may serve memory for social odors because of overlapping features.