What Is the Connection Between the Hippocampus and Depression?

Hippocampus, also known as hippocampus, hippocampus, and brain hippocampus, is located between the cerebral thalamus and medial temporal lobe, and is part of the limbic system. It is mainly responsible for long-term memory storage conversion and orientation. ^[1]

The word hippocampus is of Latin origin (Hippocampus) ^[2]

The hippocampal structure consists of the dentate gyrus and the lower jaw of the hippocampus and its adjacent temporal lobe. In addition, the hippocampus includes the entorhinal area inside the para hippocampus.

From an anatomical perspective, the hippocampus is often seen as a medial protrusion of the temporal angle of the lateral ventricle. It consists of CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4.

When the information enters the hippocampus, it flows back into CA3 from the dentate and then passes CA1 to the underbrain, and enters additional information in each area and outputs in the last two areas.

It is generally believed that different regions play a unique role in the process of hippocampal information processing, but the specific functions of each region have yet to be further studied. ^[1]

The main manifestation of amnesia is the loss of memory. In 1957, Scoville and Milner reported a very important case in neuropsychology. This is a report from a patient called HM. Due to long-term epilepsy symptoms, the doctor decided to perform an operation to remove the limbic tissue of the lower part of the temporal cortex, including the hippocampus on both sides. After surgery, the symptoms of epilepsy were effectively controlled, but since then HM has developed anterograde amnesia that has lost the ability to form new declarative long-term memory. The short-term memory ability and implicit memory ability of HM remained good, while the long-term memory and episodic memory ability were greatly damaged.

However, the results of studies on patients with HM and other hippocampal injuries only proved that the hippocampus has an effect on memory. In order to further verify the exact role of hippocampus in memory generation, researchers further proved its role through animal experiments.

The United States Biotechnology Network reported on June 10, 2003,

The hippocampus plays an important role in consolidating short-term memory and then transforming it into growth. In one experiment, a drug that prevented protein synthesis was injected into the hippocampus of rats. Significant damage. But compared with normal rats, what they learned was completely forgotten after two days. Obviously, this protein-inhibiting synthetic agent prevents the process of memory consolidation. In the process of memory consolidation, long-term potentiation plays an important role. Long-term potentiation, also known as long-term potentiation (LTP), occurs in two

The hippocampus is a mammal

The so-called sexual dimorphism (sexual dimorphism) refers to the differences in the phenotypic (physical appearance or composition of an organism) between the two sexes of the same organism. The most obvious feature of bisexuality is the genital difference between the sexes. Of course, this variant will also show up in other aspects,

For example, the male individuals of many animals are more colorful than their female counterparts. In addition, bisexuality also manifests in deeper and more subtle places, such as the human brain mechanism. ^[4]

According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald of Australia on June 30, the latest research shows that for patients with recurrent depression, the part of their brain responsible for memory and emotional control will shrink due to depression. ^[5]

Professor Ian Hickie of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney said the findings underline the need for timely identification and treatment of depression when it first appears, and for young patients This is especially true. At the same time, he also said that this brain atrophy is reversible.

The research team surveyed 1,728 patients with depression and 7,199 non-patients, and analyzed their brain scans and medical data. Of these patients, 65% have recurrent depression.

Analysis of the study found that hippocampus in the brain of patients with recurrent and persistent depression is significantly smaller, while the hippocampus is mainly responsible for memory and emotional control. Professor Herki said, "But we didn't find any changes in this part of depression in the primary stage, which shows that the disease itself caused this change in the brain." "In this case, size is related If this part of your brain shrinks, then your memory and emotional control are weakened, "he said.

However, Professor Herki also pointed out that this change is reversible, because the shrinkage is mainly due to the disconnection of cells, not the death of nerve cells like dementia. "In the right environment, it will Growing ". He said that patients who want to promote regrowth should be treated with continuous and effective treatment, including a combination of psychological and medical treatment.

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