Articles tagged with Hippocampus
Researchers found that dim light exposure led to significant reductions in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and dendritic spines, impairing learning and memory performance. Bright light exposure, on the other hand, showed improvement in spatial task performance, with full recovery after a break.
Researchers discovered specific cells in the hippocampus that fire when animals are anxious, triggering anxiety-related behaviors. The findings suggest a direct pathway to respond to anxiety-provoking environments, opening up new areas for exploring treatment ideas.
A study published in Nature Communications used virtual reality to train subjects, then showed that different areas of the hippocampus are activated for different types of memories. The researchers found that the hippocampus is involved in linking similar experiences and encoding time and space information.
Researchers have discovered that brain cells in the hippocampus process spatial information about both oneself and others. This 'buddy system' allows for joint location awareness, enabling rats to track each other's movements through a maze. The findings extend our understanding of the hippocampus' role as the brain's positioning system.
Researchers found that playing 3D video games like Super Mario 64 increased gray matter volume in the hippocampus and cerebellum of older adults. This led to improved short-term memory and cognitive function. The study suggests that learning new things, such as through video games or piano lessons, can reverse age-related brain atrophy.
New findings help clarify genetic influence on brain disorders by analyzing 3 million genomic locations, revealing links to schizophrenia and other disorders. The study identifies specific variable locations in the genome that affect gene expression and DNA methylation.
A new Australian-led study found that aerobic exercise increases the size of the left region of the hippocampus, a critical area for memory and other brain functions. The study showed significant benefits of exercise on brain health, with implications for preventing age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
Research in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that challenging situations negatively impact the brain's ability to acquire spatial and sequential context. Participants performed poorly on tests after watching clips of positive, negative, and neutral situations.
Researchers discovered that a neurotransmitter called GABA plays a crucial role in inhibiting unwanted thoughts, particularly in individuals with disorders such as schizophrenia and anxiety. The study found that higher GABA concentrations in the hippocampus are associated with better thought suppression abilities.
A recent NIH-funded study used innovative NeuroGrid technology to show that sleep boosts communication between the hippocampus and association neocortex, crucial for memory formation. The research suggests that neural dialogue between these regions helps retain information during sleep.
Researchers observed coordination between high-frequency oscillations and parts of the association cortex, which helped explicit memories transition from hippocampus to association cortex for long-term storage. The coupling was strengthened during sleep after learning.
Researchers found that inducing biochemical alteration in brain proteins via glucosamine suppresses pathological hyperexcitability in rat and mouse models. Glucosamine also protects against drug-induced hyperexcitability by targeting the AMPA receptor.
Researchers have discovered a new brain area, the retrosplenial cortex, that plays a crucial role in spatial memory and navigation. This finding could lead to a better understanding of how our brains process spatial information and may shed light on neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
A new study by Dr. Véronique Bohbot and Dr. Greg West found that playing action video games for 90 hours can lead to grey matter loss in the hippocampus, but playing 3D-platform games may be safer and more beneficial for brain spatial memory. This research highlights the importance of choosing the right type of game to play.
Research confirms that video game design influences brain plasticity, with action games reducing hippocampus grey matter. Players using spatial strategies perform better, while those relying on response strategies are more affected.
A new study suggests that habitual players of action video games have less grey matter in their hippocampus, a major part of the brain associated with spatial memory and remembering past experiences. The study found that gaming can lead to changes in the brain that increase the risk of developing brain illnesses and diseases.
Researchers found a small-molecule drug improves synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and object location memory in Rett syndrome mice. The treatment also restored general locomotor activity to normal levels, offering hope for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Research found that reduced mastication in mice led to suppressed maxillofacial bone and muscle growth, as well as reduced neural activity in the hippocampus, a key component of memory. This study suggests maintaining or strengthening masticatory function may help prevent dementia and memory/learning dysfunction.
Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science used optogenetics to manipulate thalamic spindles in mice, affecting their ability to recall memories. The study found that artificial spindles administered at specific timing enhanced memory consolidation, while reduced spindles impaired recall.
Researchers discovered 'event cells' in the hippocampus that represent sequences of events, facilitating episodic memory. The study found that the brain's theta cycle phase precession plays a crucial role in organizing these event sequences.
A new study published in The FASEB Journal reveals that the plasma membrane protein Efr3a plays a crucial role in regulating learning and memory by promoting adult hippocampal neurogenesis. This process is essential for learning and memory, and the study provides new insights into its mechanisms.
A new study reveals a previously unknown mode of communication between the hippocampus and red nucleus during REM sleep in infants. This synchronization is essential for motor control development and may contribute to motor problems in disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers discovered that the microstructure of the hippocampus, particularly its viscoelasticity, is correlated with fitness and memory performance. The study used magnetic resonance elastography to measure the structural integrity of the hippocampus in healthy young adults.
Researchers found that the prefrontal cortex teaches the hippocampus to differentiate goal-related memories, enabling rapid integration of memories with goals. This cognitive flexibility is disrupted in neuropsychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and depression.
Researchers have discovered that activating the endocannabinoid system of the brain can reduce or completely suppress epileptic activity in test animals. This finding has significant implications for developing new treatments for temporal lobe epilepsy, a common form of the condition.
Researchers found that using a satnav switches off brain regions involved in navigating new streets, suggesting the technology reduces mental effort. The study also mapped London's street network to understand how the brain reacts to different layouts.
By using an antibody-based technique, scientists inactivated GluA1 receptors at synapses, temporarily abolishing fear memory in mice. The researchers found that inactivation of GluA1 up to 2 hours after a fear-learning task resulted in the loss of fear memory.
Researchers identified a new molecule that alleviates anxiety and depressive behavior in rodents by inhibiting JNK protein. This discovery provides fresh insight into the brain's regulation of mood and indicates potential for new anti-depressant drug development.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a molecular signal that maintains adult neuron structure in the hippocampus, a region crucial for learning and memory. The study found that reintroducing this protein restored nerve cell structures to some extent, suggesting potential avenues for studying neurodegenerative diseases.
A study published in Science found that the entorhinal cortex replays memories of movement independently of the hippocampus, challenging the long-held view of the hippocampus as the primary memory region. The medial entorhinal cortex acts like a navigational system, providing cues for location and movement to the hippocampus.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have discovered that the hippocampus is crucial for constructing scenes in one's mind when imagining the future. This finding sheds light on how the brain supports the capacity to imagine the future and identifies key brain regions involved.
Researchers found that individuals lacking the CYP2C19 enzyme have a lower risk of depression and larger hippocampi in adulthood. Increased expression of the enzyme is associated with higher suicidal incidences in depressed patients, suggesting that early life influences may contribute to depression's development.
A new study published in Neurology suggests that a lack of hippocampus shrinkage may indicate an increased risk of developing dementia with Lewy bodies. The study found that individuals with normal hippocampus volume were 5.8 times more likely to develop probable dementia with Lewy bodies than those with atrophy.
Researchers found that chronic low-dose-rate ionizing radiation can induce molecular changes in the brain resembling Alzheimer's disease. Studies exposed mice to cumulative doses of radiation, inducing changes in the hippocampus, a key region for learning and memory.
Scientists discovered that female brain structures change monthly in response to hormonal fluctuations, particularly the hippocampus which plays a crucial role in memories and emotions. The study aims to better understand premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) by examining the brain's monthly rhythm.
A University of Maryland study found that stopping exercise for just 10 days significantly decreases blood flow to key brain regions, including the hippocampus. This decrease in cerebral blood flow can have long-term implications for brain health and cognitive function in older adults.
Researchers found that rats replay sequences in reverse when rewarded, suggesting the brain links rewards to paths. This mechanism may aid humans in recalling important details about their surroundings.
Researchers found that rats' memories of reaching a reward play forward and backward in their hippocampus. The number of reverse replays rose with the size of the reward, while forward replays remained constant, suggesting different roles for each form of fast-motion simulation.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that faulty inhibitory neurotransmission and excessive activity in the hippocampus impair memory and attention. The study highlights the importance of well-balanced neural activity within brain regions, suggesting that both too much and too little activity can cause impairments.
Research reveals that a brief period of stress can cause the hippocampus to start shrinking, which precedes the onset of memory loss. The study found that stressed rats performed poorly in memory tests compared to unstressed rats, with individual differences in brain shrinkage predicting worse performance.
Researchers found that a Western diet impairs the ability to inhibit memories of palatable foods, making it harder to resist treats even when full. This link between dietary habits and brain function could explain why some people develop persistent desires for snacks leading to obesity.
Researchers found that a genetic risk score was associated with worse memory and smaller hippocampus volume in healthy younger participants. A higher polygenic risk score was linked to greater longitudinal memory and executive function decline and clinical progression of the disease.
Researchers have developed a new mouse model to study the role of the entorhinal cortex in spatial memory. The model showed that silencing the entorhinal cortex led to scrambled memory codes and impaired navigation. This study provides insights into how dysfunction of this circuit may contribute to memory loss in Alzheimer's disease.
A study found that patients with a larger hippocampus are more likely to respond to exposure-based therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The researchers examined the relationship between hippocampus volume and response to treatment in 50 participants with PTSD.
A study in male mice exposed to early life stress shows that the hippocampus matures faster, but with reduced neural growth, supporting an evolution-based hypothesis. This accelerated maturation may be an adaptation to prepare for short-term survival priorities.
Researchers found that micro-needle insertion into the hippocampus of mice with Alzheimer's disease reduced beta-amyloid plaques and improved memory tasks. The procedure also triggered neurogenesis in the brain, suggesting a potential new approach to treating neuro-cognitive disorders.
A traveling spike generator has been found to initiate brain waves in the hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with memory. The generator appears to move across the region while generating brain waves, but produces no electrical signal. This discovery may provide new insights into epilepsy treatment and memory consolidation.
Researchers found a pathway in the brain linked to forgetting, which erases memories. The study suggests a balance between learning and forgetting is necessary for memory formation.
Researchers discovered a key brain circuit responsible for using past experiences to guide decision-making in rats. The circuit involves coordinated activity between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during awake mental replay of past experiences.
A University of Tsukuba study found that astaxanthin promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus and elevates learning and memory capacity. The research discovered specific molecular pathways contributing to improved memory capacity, paving the way for targeted mechanisms in medical food development.
Researchers found that brain regions synchronize electrical activity in a specific rhythm, known as theta oscillation, to facilitate spatial choice and memory processes.
The brain regulates the size of neuronal ensembles that reflect the memory trace to optimize performance, researchers from Université de Genève demonstrate. The study shows that inhibiting or resurfacing a memory can be achieved by targeting neurons in the hippocampus.
Researchers discovered a cellular circuit in the mouse brain that enables it to remember safe environments and differentiate them from dangerous ones. The study found that disrupting this circuitry may contribute to conditions like posttraumatic stress and anxiety disorders.
Researchers found that men use cardinal directions more efficiently and the hippocampus less than women, while women rely on local memory. Administering testosterone improved women's navigation skills, but not their performance.
Researchers at The Neuro compiled a detailed map of the hippocampus, improving tools for diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The new atlas provides non-invasive ways to assess therapy impact and improve patient quality of life.
A three-year project is launching to investigate neural network mechanisms of sequence generation in the hippocampus. The researchers aim to shed light upon the neuronal foundations of memory, a brain structure crucial for remembering personal experiences.
Researchers found that high-frequency activity in the hippocampus predicts behavioral performance and supports both recollection and familiarity components of recognition memory. The study used direct electrical recordings to test this link.
Researchers discovered two alternating activity states in the hippocampus that enable effective working memory, a crucial process for retaining new information. This finding suggests that complex tasks rely on intricate neural mechanisms, contrary to common perceptions of simplicity.
The hippocampus is involved in quick and successful conflict resolution, enabling the brain to make rapid decisions. This finding suggests that the memory system may learn from resolved conflicts, leading to improved performance.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that the hippocampus represents time and space for at least a month of memories spanning up to 30 kilometers. The researchers used an Android-based smartphone to collect real-life photos, which were later analyzed using fMRI scanning.