Hippocampus
Recent articles
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.
![Illustration of ketamine blocking open ion channels in active NMDA receptors, quieting the cells and disrupting downstream signaling involved in depression.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200-ketamine-receptor-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.
‘Place cells’ help guide freely swimming zebrafish larvae
The newly found cells function like those in mammals, revealing that spatial cognition evolved earlier than previously thought.
![Research image of place cells plotted onto a reference zebrafish larva brain.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/zebrafishscan-landscape-1200-1024x692.webp)
‘Place cells’ help guide freely swimming zebrafish larvae
The newly found cells function like those in mammals, revealing that spatial cognition evolved earlier than previously thought.
Six new neuroscience books for fall—plus five titles you may have missed
We highlight the most anticipated neuroscience books for the remainder of 2024 and recap notable releases since last December.
![Illustration of a group of books floating against a light blue and yellow background.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/books-1200-1024x692.webp)
Six new neuroscience books for fall—plus five titles you may have missed
We highlight the most anticipated neuroscience books for the remainder of 2024 and recap notable releases since last December.
Neurons’ spikes may convey their whereabouts
The time lag between spurts of activity holds anatomical information, according to a preprint.
![Illustration of a neuron with cardinal directions superimposed over it as on a compass.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/compass-neuron-1200-1024x692.webp)
Neurons’ spikes may convey their whereabouts
The time lag between spurts of activity holds anatomical information, according to a preprint.
Supersized version of Alzheimer’s protein avoids clumping in brain
“Big tau” may explain why some brain regions, such as the cerebellum and brainstem, are largely spared from neurodegeneration, even though tau is expressed throughout the nervous system.
![Research image of tau proteins in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/tauPET-landscape-1200-1024x692.webp)
Supersized version of Alzheimer’s protein avoids clumping in brain
“Big tau” may explain why some brain regions, such as the cerebellum and brainstem, are largely spared from neurodegeneration, even though tau is expressed throughout the nervous system.
Egyptian fruit bats’ neural patterns represent different experimenters
The findings underscore the importance of accounting for “experimenter effects” on lab animals.
![Research image of neurons firing in the hippocampus of Egyptian fruit bats.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1200-bats-neural-activity-1e-1024x683.webp)
Egyptian fruit bats’ neural patterns represent different experimenters
The findings underscore the importance of accounting for “experimenter effects” on lab animals.
How to teach this paper: ‘Behavioral time scale synaptic plasticity underlies CA1 place fields,’ by Bittner and Milstein et al. (2017)
Katie Bittner, Aaron Milstein and their colleagues found that cellular learning can happen over longer timescales than Hebb’s rule predicts. How long should we wait to teach students about this phenomenon?
![Illustration of a canyon landscape with an orange clock face in place of a sun.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1200-how-to-teach-3-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
How to teach this paper: ‘Behavioral time scale synaptic plasticity underlies CA1 place fields,’ by Bittner and Milstein et al. (2017)
Katie Bittner, Aaron Milstein and their colleagues found that cellular learning can happen over longer timescales than Hebb’s rule predicts. How long should we wait to teach students about this phenomenon?
Widely used calcium imaging protocol can lead to spurious results, new paper cautions
The technique, which measures calcium currents as a proxy for neuronal firing, sometimes reports unusual and potentially misleading waves of activity in the hippocampus.
Widely used calcium imaging protocol can lead to spurious results, new paper cautions
The technique, which measures calcium currents as a proxy for neuronal firing, sometimes reports unusual and potentially misleading waves of activity in the hippocampus.
Tail of hippocampus may be hub for seizures in mice and people
This little-studied subregion, called the fasciola cinereum, could be a new surgical target for people with treatment-resistant epilepsy.
![Research image of neurons in a small section of the hippocampus.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Soltesz-FigCD-1200-1024x692.webp)
Tail of hippocampus may be hub for seizures in mice and people
This little-studied subregion, called the fasciola cinereum, could be a new surgical target for people with treatment-resistant epilepsy.
The value of math and spatial learning with Loren Frank
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator discusses what drew him to study the brain and his current work at the University of California, San Francisco.
![Illustrated portrait of Loren Frank.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1200-loren-frank-synaptic-1-1024x683.webp)
The value of math and spatial learning with Loren Frank
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator discusses what drew him to study the brain and his current work at the University of California, San Francisco.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200_coughingmice-1024x720.webp)
Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
![Capitol building](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/capitolhill-1200-1024x692.webp)
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
X-chromosome genes; neurobiology of infant crying; MCHAT in preemies
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 2 September.
![Research image of astrocytes and microglia in mouse brains.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1200-spotted-20240903-1024x683.webp)
X-chromosome genes; neurobiology of infant crying; MCHAT in preemies
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 2 September.