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Cognitive enhancing effects of voluntary exercise, caloric restriction and environmental enrichment: A role for adult hippocampal neurogenesis and pattern separation?


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Authors

Kent, BA 
Oomen, CA 
Bekinschtein, P 
Bussey, TJ 
Saksida, LM 

Abstract

Several behavioural interventions, such as physical exercise, dietary restriction, and enriched environments are associated with both improved cognition and increased adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Whether the learning and memory improvements associated with these interventions are causally dependent on the upregulated neurogenesis has not yet been conclusively determined. However, with the accumulating evidence of a role for adult-born hippocampal neurons in spatial pattern separation, it is possible that the improvements in learning and memory result, at least in part, from an improvement in pattern separation. The following review focuses on three major behavioural manipulations associated with cognitive enhancement: voluntary exercise, caloric restriction, and environmental enrichment (including learning), and how increased neurogenesis may contribute to the enhancement by improving pattern separation.

Description

Keywords

5202 Biological Psychology, 52 Psychology, Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-Human, Neurodegenerative, Aging, Stem Cell Research, Mental Health, Brain Disorders, Behavioral and Social Science, Neurosciences, Nutrition, Acquired Cognitive Impairment, Prevention, Physical Activity, 1.1 Normal biological development and functioning, Mental health

Journal Title

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2352-1546
2352-1546

Volume Title

4

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/G019002/1)
Wellcome Trust (089703/Z/09/Z)
European Commission (115008)
The authors would like to acknowledge financial contribution from the following funding sources: the Innovative Medicine Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement no. 115008, of which resources are composed of a European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations in-kind contribution and financial contribution from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013); The Wellcome Trust/Medical Research Council (089703/Z/09/Z) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (grant BB/G019002/1). C.A.O. received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 603016. B.A.K. was supported by Gates Cambridge.