The Curious Case of Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2019 Mar 20;10(3):1131-1132. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00063. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Abstract

Neurogenesis in the human brain has been validated to occur throughout adulthood. Recently, the human hippocampal neurogenesis field has been shaken by two significant reports that have been published with opposite reports, and these path-breaking studies have flipped the bandwagon of the neurogenesis field upside down, by questioning the existence of human hippocampal neurogenesis. Here, we discuss the findings by these two prominent papers, dissecting the potential reasons for conflicting results, insisting on the need to understand new observations critically, and further highlighting in what way the existing knowledge of adult hippocampal neurogenesis relates to the human.

Keywords: Adult neurogenesis; dentate gyrus; hippocampus; human.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neurogenesis / physiology*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology*