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Cited by 372Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsMemory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

The neurogenic reserve hypothesis: what is adult hippocampal neurogenesis good for?

Kempermann, Gerd·2008·Trends in Neurosciences
DOI 10.1016/j.tins.2008.01.002
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Abstract

Several theories have proposed possible functions of adult neurogenesis in learning processes on a systems level, such as the avoidance of catastrophic interference and the encoding of temporal and contextual information, and in emotional behavior. Under the assumption of such functionality of new neurons, the question arises: what are the consequences of adult hippocampal neurogenesis beyond the temporally immediate computational benefit? What might provide the evolutionary advantage of maintaining neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus but almost nowhere else? I propose that over the course of life, activity-dependently regulated adult neurogenesis reveals its true significance in the retained ability for lasting and cumulative network adaptations. The hippocampal precursor cells that generate new neurons with their particular acute function represent a 'neurogenic reserve': the potential to remain flexible and plastic in hippocampal learning when the individual is exposed to novelty and complexity.

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  • Aging brains can produce new neurons, synaptic connections, and blood vessels.

    “old brains can grow new neurons, synaptic connections, and new vasculature.”

    From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Kempermann, 2008

    The synthesis section (p. 5) reports low levels of new-neuron production even in the oldest rodent and human subjects studied. The paper also discusses synaptic plasticity and the integration of new neurons into networks (pp. 2–3), but does not establish that aging brains grow new synaptic connections; it does not address new vasculature. Those parts of the claim are unsupported by this source. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Neural plasticity declines with age but is greater than previously thought.

    “Although such neural plasticity is reduced in old age, it remains more substantial than previously recognized”

    From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Kempermann, 2008

    The synthesis section (p. 5) says hippocampal neurogenesis declines steeply with age but persists, and that novel environments robustly induce it even in old mice. This supports a substantial remaining capacity for this form of plasticity, but the paper does not establish the claim for neural plasticity generally or explicitly compare it with what was previously recognized. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The extant literature provides some clues about molecular and cellular pathways supporting interactive effects of different factors, but much remains to be discovered.

    “although the extant literature provides some clues concerning the molecular and cellular pathways that support the interactive effects of different factors, much remains to be discovered in further research on multimodal interventions”

    From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Kempermann, 2008

    The paper distinguishes the cellular effects of physical and cognitive activity on adult hippocampal neurogenesis (A synthesis of nonspecific and specific regulatory mechanisms, p. 4). It identifies possible mediators, including GABA and neurotrophic factors, while saying that some mechanisms remain unknown (The cellular representation of the neurogenic reserve in the adult hippocampus, p. 5). It does not directly address molecular pathways in multimodal interventions generally, so the claim extends beyond the paper’s scope. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Animal studies show major changes in mechanisms such as neurogenesis even in mature animals as a function of changing environmental contingencies.

    “Likewise, animal studies have shown major changes in a variety of mechanisms, such as neurogenesis (growth of new neurons), even in mature animals, as a function of changing environmental contingencies (e.g., Cotman, 1995; Kempermann, 2008).”

    From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Kempermann, 2008

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Research works printed but not linked: 53

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  53. [61]61. U. Lindenberger et al. , Delineating brain-behavior mappings across the lifespan: substantive and methodological advances in developmental neuroscience, Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 30 (2006), pp. 713-717. Fig.1. The neurogenic reserve hypothesis. (a) The key idea is that adult neurogenesis allows an adaptation of the hippocampal network to new experiences. With a high level of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (as commonly observed in young age), the mouse that is confronted with a new situation (right panel) that is similar to but distinct from a previously learned situation (left panel) can easily adapt to the new situation and learn the distinguishing differences, thereby expanding its cognitive map (i.e. the representation of the environment) without catastrophic interference between novel and previously learned information [19]. (b) If adult hippocampal neurogenesis is low, this adjustment and optimization of the mossy fiber connection is not possible. Novel information interferes with previously learned information. (c) On longer timescales, the fact comes into play that the learning experience itself (as well as locomotion) as the means of navigation in the physical (and thus cognitive) space affects the regulation of adult neurogenesis. If there is a lack of stimuli, represented by the prolonged exposure to the same environment, adult neurogenesis decreases and the potential for recruiting the necessary new neurons in times of computational need is reduced. No reserve has been built. (d) By contrast, if the individual experiences a high level of complexity and novelty (i.e. has to physically navigate in a complex and changing world), precursor cell activity remains high, a neurogenic reserve is built and the hippocampus can still plastically adopt to very novel situations that are experienced for the first time in older age. 'Die Maus' appears with kind permission of copyright holder Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln. © I. Schmitt-Menzel/WDR mediagroup licensing GmbH/Die Sendung mit der Maus ® WDR. <!-- image -->

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Authors
Kempermann, G.
Affiliations
Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (DE)
Corresponding author
Kempermann, Gerd
ORCID
Kempermann, Gerd
Venue
Trends in Neurosciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-04
Volume
31
Issue
4
Pages
163-169
ISSN
0166-2236 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.tins.2008.01.002
OpenAlex
W2015775161
Cited by
372
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 29
FWCI
2.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Trends in Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • MDC Repository (Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
adult hippocampal neurogenesis, dentate gyrus, catastrophic forgetting, contextual memory, emotional behavior, neuroplasticity, network adaptation
MeSH terms
Hippocampus, Humans, Neurons, Cell Proliferation

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