The hippocampus: Anatomy, pathophysiology, and regenerative capacity

Cognitive deficits following insults to the central nervous system-particul arly those involving the hippocampus and related structures-are often persi stent and severely debilitating. Progress has been made in establishing the role of the hippocampus in integrating information in the formation of mem ory necessary for subsequent recollection of information. The present artic le will review anatomic, physiological, and functional aspects of the hippo campus in reference to learning and memory. Both animal and human hippocamp al pathophysiological processes will be explored. Adaptive and maladaptive central nervous system responses will be reviewed, with a special emphasis on neurogenesis. Ideally physiological and cellular compensatory responses ought to parallel clinical observation. However, this association is not cl early established. Finally the current understanding of neuromodulatory mec hanisms (although quite preliminary) will also be discussed.