Inside the Thompson laboratory during the “cerebellar years” and the continuing cerebellar story

This paper is based on the talk by one of the authors (DL) given at the symposium for the retirement of RF Thompson (RF Thompson: A bridge between 20th and 21st century neuroscience). We first make some informal observations of the historical times and research conditions in the Thompson laboratory when the cerebellum was found to play a critical role in eye lid classical conditioning, the “cerebellar years”. These conditions influenced our collaborative international program on the phenomenon known as “transfer of training” or “savings”. Our research shows that the appearance of “savings” is an artifact of the order of testing, and depends upon the functioning of the contralateral interpositus nucleus (IPN) in a way that is complementary to the role of the IPN in normal eyelid classical conditioning.

Research highlights
► This paper is based on a presentation for the retirement of RF Thompson.
► Describes the laboratory when classical conditioning was localized in interpositus.
► Describes international research on “transfer of training” or “savings”.
► Savings could provide evidence against localization of memory.
► Our research shows the apparent savings is an artifact of testing.
► The interpositus is critical for learning and for transfer of training.
► This research supports the Thompson finding of localization of learning and memory.