New study shows how sensory perception in the brain affects learning and memory processes.
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‘Piriform cortex - a part of the olfactory brain - has a direct influence on information storage in our most important memory structure, the hippocampus. ’
Electric impulses simulate odors To find out how odors affect memory formation, the researchers triggered an artificial perception of an odor in the brains of rats. To do this, they stimulated the piriform cortex with electrical impulses. "We were very surprised to see that the hippocampus directly responds to stimulation of the piriform cortex," remarked Christina Strauch.
The hippocampus uses sensory information to create complex memories. The basis of this processes is its ability to increase the efficacy of information transmission across synapses and thereby store memory contents. This process is called synaptic plasticity. Manahan-Vaughan and Strauch were the first to show that stimulation of the anterior piriform cortex triggers synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Brain Exercises to Improve Memory
An active brain can certainly help in improving memory by strengthening the connections between neural impulses in brain.
An active brain can certainly help in improving memory by strengthening the connections between neural impulses in brain.
In a second step, the researchers examined to what extent the piriform cortex competes with the entorhinal cortex in driving hippocampal synaptic plasticity. This structure sends information about activity in all sensory modalities to the hippocampus. Activating the afferent pathway of this structure, called the perforant path, triggered completely different reaction patterns in the hippocampus, to those generated by the piriform cortex. "The study gives us a theoretical basis for understanding how olfaction plays such a special role in memory formation and retrieval," commented Denise Manahan-Vaughan.
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Quiz on Memory Loss
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“Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.” - Elie Wiesel
Whether it is a short term memory loss just as Dory in 'Finding Nemo' had or a more permanent one because of neurodegenerative diseases, it can adversely affect one's quality of life. Take this quiz to know more about interesting facts on memory loss / amnesia.
Strong Mobile Phone Radiation Can Influence Learning Processes
Neuroscientists from Bochum have proved that extremely high-powered electromagnetic fields (EMFs) indeed influence learning processes on the synaptic level within the brain.
Neuroscientists from Bochum have proved that extremely high-powered electromagnetic fields (EMFs) indeed influence learning processes on the synaptic level within the brain.
