Cited by 469Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsMemory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Why new neurons? Possible functions for adult hippocampal neurogenesis

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Kempermann, Gerd·2002·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

The dentate gyrus of the adult hippocampal formation generates neurons throughout life. To date, it remains unclear why. What are the new neurons used for? How can an existing functional neural network integrate and even actively recruit new neurons? The prevailing theories of cognition are based on

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.22-03-00635.2002

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  • Adult-born neurons seem to be a biological prerequisite for normal function of the hippocampus, particularly thought to mediate learning and memory formation.

    “While adult-born neurons seem to pose a biological prerequisite for normal function of the hippocampus, in particular thought to mediate learning and memory formation, the distinctive purpose of neurogenesis remains open (Eriksson et al., 1998;Kempermann, 2002).”

    From Serotonin and neuroplasticity – Links between molecular, functional and structural pathophysiology in depression (2017) · cites this paper as Kempermann, 2002

    Kempermann links adult-born neurons to hippocampal function and reports a correlation between neurogenesis and performance on a hippocampal learning task (pp. 635–637). But the paper explicitly says this does not prove causality and that the available findings cannot establish that new neurons are necessary for hippocampal function (p. 637). Calling them a biological prerequisite for normal function overstates the source. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Kempermann, G.
Affiliations
Max Delbrück Center (DE)
Corresponding author
Kempermann, Gerd
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2002-02-01
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pages
635-638
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2103081123
Cited by
469
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 30
FWCI
7.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (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, hippocampal formation, neural network integration, cognitive function, neuroplasticity
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Cell Division, Hippocampus, Humans, Memory, Nerve Net, Neurons

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