Researchers have pinpointed a specific group of cells in the brain crucial for our ability to recognize familiar versus new things, a process known as recognition memory. This finding is important because it may enhance our understanding and treatment of various cognitive disorders.
Every day, we meet new individuals, face different situations, and encounter various objects that demand our attention. Luckily, there is a part of the brain that aids in our awareness and consciousness, known as the “Claustrum complex,” which is situated deep within each hemisphere of the brain.
Currently, we recognize that various conditions affecting higher cognitive functions, such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and ADD/ADHD, are closely associated with issues in this specific brain region. However, our comprehension of how the different components of the claustrum complex operate, and the arrangement of its circuits and communication pathways, remains incomplete.
Researchers from Aarhus University have made progress in this area, uncovering the exact cellular region within the claustrum complex that oversees our capacity to differentiate between familiar and new items.
“Our research centers on a segment of the claustrum known as the ‘endopiriform,’ which, despite its distinct brain network and cellular characteristics, is not well understood,” remarked Asami Tanimura, an associate professor and the principal investigator.
“For the first time, we have mapped the connection from the endopiriform to the hippocampus and shown how essential this route is for recognition memory.”
By conducting experiments on mice, the team was able to observe how the mice’s behavior changed when the activity of this particular cell group was either activated or inhibited.
Asami elaborates:
“We discovered that the endopiriform cells were active when the mice interacted with new peers or objects, and when we suppressed this cell group, the mice struggled to tell the difference between new and familiar mice or items.”
From these observations, the researchers concluded that this particular cell cluster within the claustrum plays a significant role in transmitting memory-based attention signals to the hippocampus.
“This is entirely new information about this small but critical area of the brain, giving us a unique perspective on the specific circuit involved in recognition memory,” Asami explained.
What the implications of this knowledge could be, and if it might result in new treatment strategies for disorders affecting this brain area, remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Asami and her team are hopeful:
“To create effective treatment methods, a comprehensive understanding of the circuits of these cells is essential. With our research, we have at least opened a previously closed door regarding the specific role of the endopiriform-hippocampal circuit in higher cognitive functions.”
