Parvalbumin-positive CA1 interneurons are required for spatial working but not for reference memory

Disruption of the hippocampus influences both spatial reference and working memory. By selectively blocking parvalbumin-positive interneuron signaling, the authors find that this class of neurons contributes to spatial working memory, but not to reference memory. Parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons in cortical circuits are hypothesized to control cognitive function. To test this idea directly, we functionally removed parvalbumin-positive interneurons selectively from hippocampal CA1 in mice. We found that parvalbumin-positive interneurons are dispensable for spatial reference, but are essential for spatial working memory.