Comments on: Grand Challenges of Neuroscience: Day 3 http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/05/13/grand-challenges-of-neuroscience-day-3/ Chronicling the cognitive revolution in neuroscience Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:31:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Ed Yong http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/05/13/grand-challenges-of-neuroscience-day-3/#comment-968 Ed Yong Fri, 25 May 2007 23:16:34 +0000 http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/05/13/grand-challenges-of-neuroscience-day-3/#comment-968 The hippocampus is also one of only two parts of the human brain that makes new neurons after our birth. It's not clear whether this neurogenesis is necessary for the fully-functioning spatial knowledge and memory, but <a href="http://notexactlyrocketscience.wordpress.com/2007/05/25/bats-create-spatial-memories-without-making-new-brain-cells/" rel="nofollow">new experiments in bats</a> suggest that it isn't. Bats clearly have excellent spatial awareness and fruit-eaters in particular need superb spatial memory. And yet, a new study finds that 9 of 12 bat species have no hippocampal neurogenesis at all, while the other showed only low amounts. The hippocampus is also one of only two parts of the human brain that makes new neurons after our birth. It’s not clear whether this neurogenesis is necessary for the fully-functioning spatial knowledge and memory, but new experiments in bats suggest that it isn’t.

Bats clearly have excellent spatial awareness and fruit-eaters in particular need superb spatial memory. And yet, a new study finds that 9 of 12 bat species have no hippocampal neurogenesis at all, while the other showed only low amounts.

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