PSYC 405 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Dentate Gyrus, Prefrontal Cortex, Synaptic Plasticity
4 Feb 2020
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Document Summary
A handful of different brain structures that constantly make new brain cells, or neurons, well into adulthood. The process of making new brian cells is called neurogenesis. However, throughout adulthood new neurons are born. Hippocampus is where new memories are formed. A portion of the hippocampus that is responsible for memories of events. After the cells are created, they integrate into existing brain regions. We now know that we do not lose hippocampal cells. Instead, we show loss at the synaptic connections. There is a reduction in synapse numbers. Less ability of one cell to communicate with another cell. There are many similarities in the patterns of brain activity seen in younger and older adults. However, older adults do apparently to show less activation in medial temporal lobe when performing. Older adults over recruit certain brain areas: Ventral or dorsal prefrontal cortex during memory tasks. Frontal and parietal lobe areas when doing attention tasks.
