October 24 — Linking Memory, Stress, Mood and Neurogenesis
The hippocampus is crucial to episodic memory formation and setting the context for ongoing behavior. Its unique characteristics make it suited to both rapid encoding and long-term retention. In addition, the hippocampus may modulate brain structures supporting a range of behavioral and mood states.
When: Wednesday October 24 noon to 1:00 PM
Where: Ruth Lilly Auditorium (Room 0130) University Library, IUPUI 755 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
The hippocampus is crucial to episodic memory formation and setting the context for ongoing behavior. Its unique characteristics make it suited to both rapid encoding and long-term retention. In addition, the hippocampus may modulate brain structures subserving a range of behavioral and mood states. Because of its high density of corticosteroid receptors, the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of chronic stress and is therefore implicated in several psychiatric disorders. My computational theory of hippocampal function (Becker, 2005) explains the pivotal role of the hippocampus in adapting to novel contexts by employing a high degree of plasticity, sparse coding, and neurogenesis. It also sheds light on the nature of some of the cognitive deficits observed in people with severe mood disorders and schizophrenia. Recently, we have begun to explore the interactions between the hippocampus and other brain regions to understand why hippocampal neurogenesis might be implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and recovery from it (Becker and Wojtowicz, Jan. 2007, TiCS). Ongoing experimental work in rats (with Martin Wojtowicz, University of Toronto), healthy undergradutes, and individuals with mood disorders (with Glenda MacQueen, McMaster University) is being employed to test predictions of the model regarding hippocampal coding and neurogenesis in stress and depression.
Suzanna Becker is a professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster College in Canada. She describes her research interests:
Computational and empirical studies of the neural basis of learning and memory. In our lab, we use neural network models, fMRI and behavioural measures to study perceptual and cognitive processes including cortical and hippocampal memory systems, the role of hippocampal neurogenesis in learning and memory, spatial memory and navigation, semantic memory organization, frontal control of memory, dopaminergic role in learning and motivated behaviour, plasticity in cortical systems, and cortical reorganization after perhipheral damage.
If this sounds interesting, check out … Recovering from Mental Illness November 14.
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September 25th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
[…] October 24 — “Modulatory and Memory Functions of the Hippocampus: Linking Memory, Stress, Mood and Neurogenesis” The hippocampus is crucial to episodic memory formation and setting the context for ongoing behavior. Its unique characteristics make it suited to both rapid encoding and long-term retention. In addition, the hippocampus may modulate brain structures supporting a range of behavioral and mood states. check it out […]