Articles tagged with Hippocampus
Researchers at Boston University have found a way to manipulate emotional memories using optogenetics, allowing them to rewrite and reduce the potency of negative memories. The study reveals that positive and negative memories are stored in distinct regions of the brain and communicate through different pathways.
A study from UniSA researchers found associations between metabolic profiles and adverse brain findings, including lower hippocampal and grey matter volumes. People with metabolic profiles linked to obesity were more likely to have higher accumulation of iron in the brain.
A study found that aberrant expression of MAO-B causes both peripheral and neuroinflammation in RA patients, leading to joint pain and cognitive impairment. Administering an MAO-B inhibitor called KDS2010 improved both joint inflammation and cognitive function in a RA animal model.
Researchers found that stressed mice exhibited decreased neuron excitability in the dorsal hippocampus, which may drive social avoidance, while resilient mice showed increased excitability. This difference was linked to changes in stress hormone receptors and HCN1 protein expression.
A Brazilian-American research team has identified a subtype of inhibitory interneurons that can gauge speed with great precision. These neurons are more stable than excitatory neurons and may be linked to spatial memory and the ability to remember routes or locations.
Research finds that a single dose of alcohol permanently changes brain structure and function, leading to increased risk of addiction. The study used fruit flies and mice models to show that ethanol-induced changes in mitochondrial dynamics and synapse balance contribute to long-lasting behavioral changes.
Scientists at Harvard Medical School have made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain forms spatial maps. A new study reveals that the gene Fos plays a crucial role in this process, helping the brain use specialized navigation cells to form and maintain stable representations of the environment. The findings provide new insights...
Research reveals that physical activity has a noticeable effect on almost all brain regions, with higher intensity and duration increasing brain volume and cortical thickness. The hippocampus, a key memory center, benefits most from physical activity, which can help counteract age-related loss of brain matter.
Researchers investigate astrocyte production in the brain, discovering distinct dynamics in different parts of the cortex. The study suggests that early exposure to specific genes regulates stem cell behavior, leading to variations in astrocyte generation.
A study found that individuals with less hippocampus engagement are more likely to develop severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Those who exhibit greater defensive reactions to potentially threatening events also showed increased PTSD risk.
Research suggests that individuals with PTSD exhibit decreased activity in the hippocampus, leading to impaired threat reactivity and memory formation. This study reveals a significant interaction between hippocampal activity and physiological arousal in predicting PTSD symptoms.
Researchers discovered that hippocampal place cells represent direction and distance to a goal in addition to current location. A vector field provides signal towards the goal, aiding flexible navigation.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a key molecular mechanism behind memory linking and identified an FDA-approved drug that can restore this brain function in middle-aged mice. The study suggests a potential early intervention for dementia and strengthening human memory in middle age.
A study found a connection between learning and memory deficits in children with Joubert Syndrome and defects in the hippocampus. The researchers used animal models to create a genetic mutation that mimicked the human disease, revealing key findings about the role of primary cilia in brain development.
Researchers found that genes expressed in the brains of fearless birds differ from those of fearful birds, influencing their behavior and adaptation to new environments. This study provides insights into the genetic basis of fear and boldness in wild animals, potentially leading to novel approaches for addressing anxiety disorders.
A new study suggests that supplementing a diet with Ascidiacea, also known as sea squirts, reverses some main signs of aging in animal models. The researchers found that plasmalogens, vital to body processes, decrease with age and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Researchers found high levels of an enzyme called HDAC9 in healthy neurons, which decline with age and more drastically with Alzheimer's. The study suggests adjusting the enzyme's level may be a potential treatment for both conditions.
The brain detects unwanted memories and proactively inhibits them using the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). If inhibition fails, the ACC triggers a reactive alarm to alert other regions to stop the intrusion. This study sheds light on the neural mechanisms of controlling intrusive thoughts.
When the eyes land on a face, certain cells in the amygdala react and trigger memory-making activity. Theta wave activity is also reset or restarted, preparing the hippocampus to receive new socially relevant information.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University found that mice can perceive the difference between a picture of an object and the actual 3D object, employing higher-order cognitive processes. The study suggests that mice's hippocampus plays a significant role in associating memories with visual stimuli.
Researchers found that brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease had higher levels of the protein Fli-1 and fewer pericytes lining their smallest blood vessels, leading to leakage. Blocking Fli-1 improved memory in mice, suggesting a promising new approach to treating the disease.
Scientists demonstrate a definitive link between mitochondrial oxidative damage and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease using a transgenic mouse model. The study found that Aβ1-42 aggregation in the hippocampus caused cognitive impairment, while oxidation led to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Researchers discovered that toxic goiter causes shrinkage in central brain regions, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, which can lead to mental symptoms. The study provides key insights for patients with Graves' disease, a common form of hyperthyroidism.
Researchers discovered increased activity in the hippocampus during anesthesia and sleep, preceding Alzheimer's symptoms by years. This abnormality may enable early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Researchers found that moderate aerobic cycling improved auditory verbal learning and processing speed, as well as increased volumes of the hippocampus and cerebellar cortex. The study suggests exercise interventions may be an attractive option for improving cognitive function in individuals with traumatic brain injury.
Researchers found that prenatal exposure to nicotine and its by-products produces long-term effects on sleep and stress-response in mice. This early-life exposure can lead to alterations in the hippocampus, a sensitive structure that develops after birth.
New research published in JNeurosci reveals that impaired cognition can be part of normal aging, rather than an early sign of Alzheimer's. Cognitively frail adults showed brain structure and activity similar to healthy controls, suggesting lifestyle factors like physical activity and education may play a role.
A team of researchers at Duke University found that surprise can disrupt the stability of patterns in the hippocampus, leading to more false memories. This study has implications for understanding learning and memory, as well as how people recall events and faces.
Researchers at Göttingen University have developed a new X-ray imaging method to detect changes in neuronal cell nuclei, indicating altered activity of neurons. This technique enabled the identification of changes in neurons in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have found that stimulating the anterior thalamus can increase memory-related brain activity and restore memory function in rats with MTT lesions. The study suggests that therapies targeting this region could help recover memory in patients with brain injury, challenging previous notions of memory recovery.
A new study published in iScience reveals that fat cells play a central role in cognitive decline and neurodegeneration by controlling the systemic response to brain function. Targeting fat cells may improve outcomes for neurodegenerative disorders, according to researchers at Marshall University.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered brain activation in sleeping two-year-olds when played words they had previously learned. The study found activation in the hippocampus and anterior medial temporal lobe, indicating that these regions are crucial for laying down initial memories for words.
Researchers used functional MRI to image the hippocampus of volunteers learning and recalling short stories, finding that coherent memories are woven together. The study suggests the hippocampus brings pieces together across time to form connected, narrative memories.
A study published in Communications Biology reveals that chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes impairs working memory performance by altering the connection between key brain regions. Researchers found that areas critical for forming and retrieving memories were over-connected, leading to errors in remembering correct information.
Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital are testing a novel light therapy to slow Alzheimer's debilitating effects, aiming to improve both cognition and sleep. The treatment involves flashing pulses of light designed to enhance electrical brain waves and reset the sleep-wake cycle.
Scientists discovered beige fat cells mediate subcutaneous fat's brain protection and provide anti-inflammatory effects. Beige fat transplantation restored cognitive function in obese mice with dementia-like behavior.
Researchers mapped the molecular mechanisms of primate hippocampal aging, identifying key cell types and molecules affected by age. The study provides a valuable resource for diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers discovered that stimulating environments preserve a young DNA methylation landscape in the aged mouse hippocampus, leading to greater neuroplasticity. This finding suggests that active lives may help preserve mental fitness in old age, with implications for human brain health and disease prevention.
Research found human hippocampal neurons fire during specific moments in time, encoding information about the time and order of events. These neurons contribute to episodic memories by tracking time and sequence of events.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that the hippocampus is not just essential for long-term memory but also supports short-term memory and guides decision-making. The findings suggest that the hippocampus uses short-term memory to inform where we look, priming our visual system to learn and reevaluate our environment on the fly.
Researchers at UIC's Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics have discovered a key regulator of gene expression and anhedonia during alcohol withdrawal. Blocking STAT3 activity alleviates withdrawal-induced depression in rats, and similar results are seen in human postmortem hippocampus samples of individuals with alcohol use disorder.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science used fruit bats to study navigation in an experimental setup that emulates their natural environment. They found that a single neuron can represent multiple place fields and that the size of each field changes according to location, resolving the discrepancy between traditional models.
A study led by Genevieve Konopka and Bradley C. Lega found significant differences in gene activity between the anterior and posterior portions of the hippocampus, with genes associated with mood disorders active in the anterior portion and cognitive disorders in the posterior portion.
Researchers from the University of Sussex found that blood flow and oxygen levels in the hippocampus are lower than those in other brain regions, making it vulnerable to damage. Increasing blood flow in the hippocampus may be effective in preventing damage from happening.
Scientists have uncovered the molecular structure of three major complexes of glutamate receptors in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory and learning. The discovery has significant implications for treating epilepsy and seizure disorders, as it enables the development of targeted drugs to modulate specific receptor activity.
Researchers developed a neural implant that monitors brain activity in multiple areas simultaneously. The study reveals two-way communication between the hippocampus and cerebral cortex during learning and memory formation, tied to sharp-wave ripples.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that different general anesthetics have varying effects on the brain's hippocampus, a region essential for memory formation. Isoflurane resulted in undisrupted memory formation in mice, while other anesthetics caused significant changes in brain activity and stability of synaptic connections.
Researchers measured brain activity in first-time Japanese language students and found initial boosts followed by reductions as skills improved. Brain regions such as the grammar center, comprehension area, and auditory processing areas showed increased activation during early stages.
A team at Osaka City University has found that the subiculum sorts and routes spatial information from the hippocampus to specific regions of the brain, enabling smooth navigation. This discovery could shed light on disorders such as dementia and improve our understanding of brain function.
Researchers identified two new genes linked to Alzheimer's disease, PTPN9 and PCDHA4, in a study of gene expression in the hippocampus. The findings suggest that these genes contribute to the progression of the disease through pathways related to plaque formation and cell death.
A new study suggests that prenatal BPA exposure may be responsible for the male bias in autism spectrum disorder. The research found that BPA altered the expression of several genes in the hippocampus in a sex-dependent pattern, leading to decreased neuronal viability and impaired learning/memory in male offspring.
Researchers used focused ultrasound to improve delivery of IVIg to the hippocampus, increasing antibodies and neurogenesis by four-fold in a mouse model of Alzheimer's. This technique may help boost the efficacy of immunotherapy for AD treatment.
Scientists have developed a new imaging technology to study the brain's deep structures at high resolution. The technology, called adaptive optics two-photon endomicroscopy, enables in vivo imaging of deep brain structures and sheds light on brain functions.
A new study has confirmed the long-suspected link between sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease, identifying identical signs of brain damage in both conditions. The research found amyloid plaques, a known indicator of Alzheimer's, in the brains of people with obstructive sleep apnea.
Researchers have identified how brain cells work together to join up memories of separate experiences, allowing us to make educated guesses. The process happens in a region of the brain called the hippocampus and is also linked to creativity.
Researchers found that brain function remapping is impaired in Alzheimer's disease patients, causing spatial memory impairment. Improving brain remapping function may reverse spatial memory impairment using deep brain stimulation methods.
Research reveals that lower-income families experience reduced memory and language abilities in children due to smaller anterior hippocampus development. The study also suggests that higher income thresholds beyond $75,000 may not provide additional cognitive benefits.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a new regulatory role for CaMKII, a protein involved in calcium signaling, in the brain's memory center. They found that the hub domain of CaMKII plays a crucial role in tuning its sensitivity to calcium, opening up new avenues for investigation and potential therapeutic targets.
A new CSU study found that physical stress at work is linked to faster brain aging and poorer memory in older adults. Those who reported high levels of physical stress had smaller hippocampal volumes and performed poorly on memory tasks.
Researchers from Florida State University have uncovered new information about how Alzheimer's disease affects the brain during sleep. The study found that the interaction between two brain regions may contribute to symptoms experienced by patients, such as impaired memory and cognition. This discovery could lead to a better understand...