The hippocampus is known to be the one responsible for memory formation. However a new study finds that a brain region called the entorhinal cortex contributes in memory formation. Researchers showed that using rats. The entorhinal cortex replays memories of motion independent of input from the hippocampus.
A team of researchers led by Jozsef Csicsvari, Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria shows the result of their study. Csicsvari explains, until now the enthorhinal cortex is considered as subservient to the hippocampus. The entorhinal cortex could be a new system for memory formation that works in parallel to the hippocampus.
When there is a spatial memory formation cells in the medial enthorinal cortex, specially grid cells, act like a navigational system. They give information to the hippocampus on where an animal is and how far and in what direction the animal has moved. Surprisingly, the researchers found that replay firing in the medial enthorial cortex is not accompanied by replay firing in the hippocampus.
According to the Science Daily, the hippocampus alone is not the main one to be responsible in memory formation. Instead, both the hippocampus and the enthorinal cortex are two different systems for memory formation. Despite bing interrelated the two regions may work in parallel and may recruit different pathways and play different roles in the memory formation.
According to the Eureka Alert, when a memory is recalled from a memory stabilization, the MEC has been considered as secondary to the hippocampus. While in the hippocampus, such recall occurs during the so-called sharp wave/ripples. But according to a view prevailing until now, the hippocampus is the main initiator of the memory formation while MEC has been just a relay post.
Throughout this finding, it has shown that hippocampus region is not the only one responsible for memory formation. It was proven that the medial enthorial cortex serves as a new system of memory formation. As scientists study more about the human brain there are possibilities of discovering more information past researchers were not able to find.
