Facts about hippocampus mythology3/1/2024 ![]() They determined that the hippocampus may help people identify details in their environment that help to predict the outcome of a future event. In 2019, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to analyze patterns of brain activity. It may also strengthen the brain’s ability to generate new nerve cells and help clear out amyloid plaque, which could contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Though the exact mechanisms are not entirely clear, another review published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in 2021 suggests that exercise may improve brain circulation, particularly in the hippocampus. The authors concluded that exercise could be effective at increasing and preserving hippocampal volume, especially for older adults who may be at risk for conditions such as dementia. Evidence suggests that stress may cause a negative impact on the hippocampus.Ī 2021 review of research evaluated the effects of exercise on cognitive decline and aging. Scientists are unsure whether the small size results from depression or if it is a contributing factor. In people with severe depression, the hippocampus has less volume. However, it is not clear whether these differences happen before or after the onset of epilepsy. Research has found a connection between epilepsy and a difference in how the hippocampus makes new neurons. EpilepsyĬhanges to the hippocampus are also associated with epilepsy. They may also find it difficult to follow directions.Īs the disease progresses, the hippocampus loses volume, and it becomes harder to function in daily life. Early signs of Alzheimer’s disease become noticeable when the person begins to lose their short-term memory. Alzheimer’s diseaseĪlzheimer’s disease may affect the area of the hippocampus first. Several diseases and factors may also impair the ability of the hippocampus to do its job. Smaller hippocampal volume may also affect conditions such as schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a 2021 meta-analysis and a 2017 study.Ī range of conditions can adversely affect the hippocampus, including long-term exposure to high levels of stress. The person may be able to draw a map of the neighborhood they lived in as a child but find that going to a store in a new area can be difficult. It may be that damage to the hippocampus plays a role.ĭamage to the hippocampus can make it hard to remember how to get from one place to another. Most people with transient global amnesia eventually regain their memories, but the reasons why the problem occurs and why it resolves are unclear. Transient global amnesia is a specific form of memory loss that develops suddenly, seemingly on its own, and then goes away fairly quickly. This is because the long-term memories are stored in another part of the brain once they become long-term. They may be unable to remember some things that happened shortly before the damage, but they may still remember things that happened long ago. If one or both parts of the hippocampus are damaged by illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, or if they are hurt in an accident, the person can experience a loss of memory and a loss of the ability to make new, long-term memories. These are then stored elsewhere in the brain. In addition, short-term memories are converted into long-term memories in the hippocampus. Spatial relationship memories appear to be stored in the right hippocampus. For example, when a cab driver learns a route through a city, they use spatial memory. Spatial relationship memories involve pathways or routes. ![]() Examples can include learning how to memorize speeches or lines in a play. The hippocampus helps humans process and retrieve two types of memory, declarative memories and spatial relationships.ĭeclarative memories are those related to facts and events. These structures help control different bodily functions, such as the endocrine system and what is commonly known as the “ fight or flight” response. The limbic system is situated on the edge of the cortex, and it includes the hypothalamus and the amygdala. The hippocampus is part of the limbic system, which manages the functions of feeling and reacting. Share on Pinterest Photo editing by Stephen Kelly koto_feja/Getty Images
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