Oct 31, 2006
Neurogenesis and How Learning Saves Your Neurons
By: Caroline Latham
Jon Barron’s blog highlighted this recent press release from The Society for Neuroscience.
For decades, it was believed that the adult brain did not produce new neurons after birth. But that notion has been dispelled by research in the last ten years. It became clear by the mid– to late-1990’s that the brain does, in fact, produce new neurons throughout the lifespan.
This phenomenon, known as neurogenesis, occurs in most species, including humans, but the degree to which it occurs and the extent to which it occurs is still a matter of some controversy, says Tracey Shors, PhD, at Rutgers University.
“However, there is no question that neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in aspects of learning and memory. Thousands of new cells are produced there each day, although many die with weeks of their birth.” Shors’ recent studies have shown a correlation in animal models between learning and cell survival in the hippocampus.
Hippocampal-Dependent Learning
The hippocampus plays a critical roles in certain types of memory: 
consolidation of new memories, spatial memory, and navigation. Furthermore, the hippocampus appears to influence not only attention and learning, but also discrimination in determining when it is appropriate to learn one thing or another and, consequently, inhibiting extraneous associations while allowing meaningful associations to form.
The Learning Effect
“It is clear that learning can enhance the presence of new neurons in the adult brain,” says Shors, implying a “use it or lose it” phenomenon. “I want to stress that the cells that are rescued from death by learning were born before the learning experience. It is not the case, at least as far as we can tell, that learning produces more cells,” she says. Rather, their data indicate that the cells that were already there at the time of the training experience are affected by learning and thereby rescued from death.
…
“I am often asked whether learning and other cognitive activities will help prevent a decrease in neurogenesis or even the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s,” she says. “It seems prudent to assume so until we know different.”
Fred Gage, PhD at the Salk Institute shows us that using your brain is the best way to optimize your brain function:
“In the natural course of aging there is cognitive decline. We know we lose the ability to generate new neurons with age. We are currently trying to figure out how generate as many neurons as possible to potentially enhance learning or increase the amount of neurogenesis in adults.”
What Can You Do to Help Save Your Neurons?
- Develop a regular mental workout plan to match your physical workout.
- The simplest and most complete methods are the computer-based programs that challenge you mentally with a variety of new stimuli. We will be talking about this in more depth in coming weeks.
- Read, play chess, do sudoku, complete puzzles (of all kinds — visual, linguistic, numerical), learn to play a musical instrument, take a class, etc.
- Eat well.
- Get plenty of physical exercise.
- Reduce your stress.
- Get enough sleep.
Good luck!
Well done blog. We will work on using all the methodology!
Glad you guys enjoyed the post– let us know how your work goes!!
Neurogenesis is a fascinating area of neuroscience. Another factor that warrants mention as a stimulator of neurogenesis is exercise. Several studies have shown that regular exercise increases the rate of neurogenesis in the hippocampus. In fact, exercise appears to do this by activating growth factor systems similiar to those activated by antidepressant medications, which have also been shown to increase hippocampal neurogenesis. Coupling regular physical exercise with the mind challenging exercises that you suggest are likely to mutliply the positive effects.
Agreed! Physical exercise is indeed important for increasing blood flow to the brain, increasing nerve growth factor (NGF), and reducing cortisol produced by stress. All four of the pillars listed below play a role in keeping your cognitive skills functioning:
1) Physical Exercise
2) Brain Exercise
3) Nutrition
4) Stress Reduction
[…] (Please note we have moved. If you are interested in linking to this post, please link to http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/31/neurogenesis-and-how-learning-saves-your-neurons/) […]
[…] EG: Yes. Most programs I have seen so far are better at training other brain areas, which are also very important, but we are getting there, with examples such as working memory training, emotional self-regulation and domain-specific decision-making. Some of the spectacular research and clinical findings of the last 20 years that remain to be discovered by the population at large are that we enjoy lifelong brain plasticity and Neurogenesis, that the rate of development of new neurons can be influenced by cognitive activities, and that intense mental challenges provide extra resistance to ageing. […]
[…] Neurogenesis and How Learning Saves Your Neurons Tags: age related cognitive decline, anxiety, biofeedback, brain age, brain exercise, Brain Fitness, brain workout, cognitive reserve, Cognitive Training, crossword puzzles, Emotional self regulation, emotional stability, emwave, family pressure, Freeze Framer, heart rate variability, mental muscles, MindFit, multitasking, neocortex, Neurogenesis, Physical and Mental Exercise, Stress Management, Work stress, Working memory […]
[…] If you’re working inside tight deadlines, chances are you won’t have enough time to create and effectively deploy activities where students have extended opportunities to listen and repeat. (Miss Profe over at It’s A Hardknock Teacher’s Life blog, writes about an interesting exercise. Brain friendly? I think so…how about you?)Mission Impossible? Rescue your Student’s NeuronsFascinating: the hippocampus (vaguely remember that word from university bio class) is a spot in our brain that is heavily involved in learning and memory. According to an article on the SharpBrains blog, which points to some pretty fascinating research: “Thousands of new cells are produced there (hippocampus) each day, although many die with weeks of their birth. {…}“It is clear that learning can enhance the presence of new neurons in the adult brain,” says Shors, implying a “use it or lose it” phenomenon. “I want to stress that the cells that are rescued from death by learning were born before the learning experience. It is not the case, at least as far as we can tell, that learning produces more cells,” she says. Rather, their data indicate that the cells that were already there at the time of the training experience are affected by learning and thereby rescued from death.”(Neurogenesis and How Learning Saves Your Neurons) Our students have the necessary cells for learning a new language, but are we actively attempting to craft learning experiences which “rescue” and activate them? Neurons could be our greatest classroom allies…but how well do we use and engage them? […]
[…] On how mental exercise may be more critical for neuron survival than for neuron creation: Neurogenesis and How Learning Saves Your Neurons […]
[…] During our sleep our brains orders information and makes room for new input. When the slow brainwaves that occur during sleep are disturbed by external disturbances like noise and light, then the hippocampus is less active during the following day. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in the storing of memories. […]