The findings have recently been published in the international academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) in August 2017.The hippocampus, located underneath the cortex, plays important roles in memory and navigation. Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia have been proven to have affected and damaged this area of the brain, resulting in early symptoms including short-term memory loss and disorientation. People with hippocampal damage may lose the ability to form and retain new memories. It is also closely related to other diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, transient global amnesia and posttraumatic stress disorder.However, the role of hippocampus in complex brain networks, particularly its influence on brain-wide functional connectivity, is not well understood by scientists.
The hippocampus is a key area of the brain involved with basic function, part of the temporal lobe and intimately related with the amygdala. Mar 13, 2015 At present, it is unknown whether these differing effects on memory are indirect, i.e., the result of stress decreasing the hippocampus’ ability to interact (e.g., compete) with other brain–memory systems, or direct facilitatory effects on nonhippocampal memory systems.
Functional connectivity refers to the functional integration between spatially separated brain regions.Rodent experiments conducted by Dr Russell W. Chan, Dr Alex T. Leong and others, led by Professor Wu, revealed that low-frequency activities in the hippocampus can drive brain-wide functional connectivity in the cerebral cortex and enhance sensory responses. The cerebral cortex is the largest region of the mammalian brain and plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, cognition, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.
In other words, low-frequency activities of the hippocampus can drive the functional integration between different regions of the cerebral cortex and enhance the responsiveness of vision, hearing and touch. These results indicated that hippocampus can be considered as the heart of the brain, a breakthrough in our knowledge of how the brain works.Furthermore, these results also suggest that low-frequency activities in the hippocampus can enhance learning and memory since low-frequency activities usually occur during slow-wave sleep which has been associated with learning and memory. Slow-wave sleep, often referred as deep sleep, is a state that we usually enter several times each night and is necessary for survival. Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and worsens over time, and the most common early symptom is memory loss.
These results may also have potential therapeutic implications of hippocampal neuromodulation in Alzheimer's disease. These current findings are a major step in furthering our fundamental understanding of the origins and roles of brain-wide functional connectivity. These findings also signify the potentials of rsfMRI and neuromodulation for early diagnosis and enhanced treatment of brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease, dementia, epilepsy, schizophrenia, transient global amnesia, and posttraumatic stress disorder.Professor Wu's team is one of the world's leading teams in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research, particularly in the investigation of auditory and visual functions, and brain structural and functional connectivity.
The hippocampus is the part of the brain which stores memory. It’s kind of like our inner hard drive. And just like actual hard drives, we can boost its performance.Fortunately, it doesn’t require a mini-screwdriver.
There are a few (painless) techniques you can employ to improve the efficiency of your hippocampus. It’ll then be well prepared for absorbing new information!But first things first What Is Your Hippocampus?The hippocampi are two arched organs based in the. They form an integral part of the. This regulates your emotions.They’re awesome for two reasons: a) They store your memory, and, b) They look like a pair of seahorses!Everytime you learn something new, a unique is created. Revisiting this new discovery makes the pathway stronger. It’s then easier for the hippocampus to recall the information. In other words, when you revise for an exam or test, you are in fact making your neural pathways stronger.How Good Are Your Hippocampi?Let’s do a small short-term memory exercise.
This is called ‘Testing Your Recall’. For this, you’ll need a pen and paper (or a device to punch words into).Listed below are ten items. Read through them once.
Then for a second time. Once finished, take a minute to write down the objects in the order they appear without looking back (and no cheating, you!). An umbrella.
A shoe. A cuddly toy. A melon. A tree. A yogurt. A parrot. A laptop.
A red jumper. A basketballHow many did you get right? Were they all in order? Feel free to hit the social media icons at the bottom of the blog and let us know your score (#GEMEMORY)!That tested your short-term memory. When it comes to learning, you need your long-term memory to be in good shape. As mentioned earlier, there are things you can do to help improve the effectiveness of the hippocampi3 Ways To Improve Your Hippocampus 1.
ExerciseYou can generate new hippocampi neurons by exercising. A The first group had access to a running wheel, the second did not. The mice with the wheel produced an abundance of new neurons in their hippocampus. The group without produced far less.Studies have shown a link between a lack of exercise and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the, regular exercise can decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 50%.Most exercises will help the brain in someway. If you’re searching for an exercise which is particularly brain-effective, then is a great place to start.Different types of aerobics include; walking, running, cycling, swimming, boxing, rowing and even dancing!
Change Your DietDiet plays a central role in improving your memory. Sadly, this means that you’ll have to ditch the fast food if you want to increase your learning abilities! FishFish frequently tops lists as. The brain uses Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish to boost our cellular structure and brain signaling.
Fish with the highest amount of Omega-3 fatty acids include; mackerel, sardines and salmon. BlueberriesBlueberries are beneficial to the body in many ways. They reduce DNA damage and can help prevent heart disease.
Perhaps best of all, they are said to contain the highest amount of antioxidants of all fruit.Free radicals are linked to disease. They’re molecules without an electron. They’re dangerous as they can cause a chain reaction by removing the electrons from other molecules. Antioxidants award electrons to, which counterbalance them. CoffeeCoffee has several obvious benefits. The alone keep us from being grouchy in the mornings! The caffeine also increases our concentration levels and blocks adenosine, which is a chemical that makes us drowsy.Another positive of coffee is the large amount of antioxidants.
As we know from blueberries, antioxidants help to improve your memory and the brain in general. Bonus Note: Dark Chocolate!If you don’t like fish, blueberries or coffee, then the good news is there’s. Dark chocolate releases dopamine, which is great for fast learning and memory. But the benefits don’t stop there. Dark chocolate also releases antioxidants. This means that you no longer have to feel guilty about eating chocolate!
Brain TrainingBy the time we’re fully-grown, we have millions of well-developed neural pathways. This is why obstacles you’ve previously experienced get easier to solve (apart from finding your keys!). So what about new neural pathways?The more neural pathways we create, the easier it gets to create newer ones. This is why keeping your brain on its toes is important. But how can you do this?
CrosswordsMental gymnastics such as crosswords are said to stimulate new connections between nerve cells. Additionally, crosswords can build up. Take a New Route HomeHow do you commute? By public transport?
Or maybe you’re lucky enough to walk home? Taking the same route to and from work everyday puts your brain on autopilot.
Shake things up by choosing different directions. This can activate the cortex, the part of the brain responsible for processing information.
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It can also stimulate the hippocampus. At one point in his life, Bill Gates took a different route home everyday to stimulate his brain.
Brain Training Apps/Online GamesThere are hundreds of apps that are purpose-built to stimulate the brain and hippocampus. They do so by working on problem-solving, processing speed, attention span and memory. Our fantastic app is an awesome game-based authoring tool. It allows you to easily create your own learning-based online games.The limbic system also looks after our memory as well as our emotional responses.
Here’s what Juliette has to say on the matter:Final WordThere has never been an easier time to grow your hippocampus. As well as more traditional methods such as exercising and changing your diet, technology has put brain training into overdrive! There are tons of stimulating apps for the brain these days. Online games can be hugely educational too.For maximum results, we would advise that you have a swim, whilst drinking a coffee and doing a crossword! Let us know how you get on.