All articles tagged with #hippocampus
A Bonn-led study finds that the human brain stores memory content and its context in separate neuron populations—content neurons fire for specific items, context neurons for the task or situation—whose coordinated interactions enable flexible recall through pattern completion.
Scientists have identified a gradient in the hippocampus that responds to familiar and new environments, which could help explain early signs of dementia like Alzheimer's, by revealing how the brain processes spatial novelty and familiarity during navigation.
A study from the University of Nottingham found that balanced neural inhibition in the hippocampus is essential for recognition memory, with both excessive and insufficient inhibition disrupting object recognition, while inhibition in the prefrontal cortex has no effect. These findings highlight the importance of neural balance for memory function and could inform treatments for cognitive disorders like schizophrenia and dementia.
A study reveals how synchronized signals between the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus stabilize memories during learning by balancing excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways, which may inform treatments for disorders like PTSD and schizophrenia.
Researchers have uncovered how the brain dynamically switches between memory recall and processing new information by modulating the balance between slow (theta) and fast (gamma) rhythms through distinct inhibitory circuits, a mechanism that could inform treatments for neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and epilepsy.
Scientists at UC San Francisco discovered that the protein FTL1 plays a central role in brain aging, particularly in the hippocampus. Increasing FTL1 levels in young mice mimics aging effects, while reducing it in old mice restores youthful brain connections and improves memory, suggesting potential therapies to reverse brain aging.
Scientists discovered that the locus coeruleus in the brain acts as a 'reset button' for memories, helping to separate experiences into distinct events by signaling important changes and promoting memory segmentation, with implications for understanding memory formation and potential treatments for stress-related disorders.
A study using brain scans shows that babies as young as four months can form memories, with older infants demonstrating more complex memory activity, challenging previous beliefs about early memory capabilities and opening new avenues for understanding human development.
A mouse study reveals that memories in the brain are not static but 'drift' over time, with only a small subset of neurons remaining stable, suggesting that this drift may help distinguish similar experiences and track the passage of time. The research challenges the traditional view of fixed 'place cells' in the hippocampus and proposes that memory stability may depend on neuron excitability, with potential implications for understanding age-related memory decline.
A study reveals how the amygdala and hippocampus coordinate to encode and retrieve emotional memories, with specific gamma activity patterns in the amygdala shaping hippocampal responses that are later reactivated during recall, providing insights into emotional memory vividness and potential treatments for PTSD.
New research from Northwestern University reveals that the brain's internal map rewrites itself every time we navigate a familiar environment, even under controlled conditions, indicating that spatial memories are dynamic and evolve over time. The study also suggests that highly excitable neurons maintain more stable memories, which could have implications for understanding aging and memory retention.
Researchers have discovered that ripple-type brain waves in the hippocampus mark the boundaries of memory episodes and coordinate with cortical areas during naturalistic experiences, providing new insights into how memories are structured and opening potential avenues for treating memory impairments.
Scientists have discovered neural progenitor cells in the adult human hippocampus, previously thought to only exist in childhood, using machine learning techniques. This finding suggests ongoing neuron formation in adults, opening new possibilities for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists discovered that a small brain region called the locus coeruleus acts as a 'reset button' during meaningful changes in experiences, helping to organize memories by signaling the start of new events and separating them into distinct memories. This process is crucial for understanding how we perceive and remember events, and disruptions in this system may relate to memory disorders like PTSD and Alzheimer's disease.
A new study confirms that the human hippocampus continues to generate new neurons throughout adulthood, particularly in the dentate gyrus, which is crucial for memory and emotion regulation. Using RNA analysis and machine learning, researchers found ongoing neurogenesis across different ages, with potential implications for understanding brain aging, learning, and treating neurodegenerative diseases.