Eric Kandel and the Hippocampus Tiana Hobbs Nayira Warren Date: 11/09/12 Period: 3B

Background on Kandel Born in Vienna, Austria in 1929 Currently a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and professor of biochemistry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons He developed a deep interest in the biology of motivation and unconsciousness and conscious memory due to Freud He attended both Harvard University and New York University of Medical School

The Hippocampus

Function of the Hippocampus A major part of the brain Involved in the formation, storing and processing of memory (short and long term) -inhibition, memory, and space Located in the temporal lobe There are two parts that interlock: the Ammon’s horn and dentate gyrus

Synaptic Gap The gap between terminal buttons of a neuron and the receiving cell Here is where chemical messengers send electrical impulses to the rest of the body Sends memories to other parts of brain for long term storage and is able to retrieve the memories whenever necessary

Memory Experiments Kandel initially only studied and recorded the activity of nerve cells in the hippocampus However, Kandel began to realize that memory storage must rely on modifications in the synaptic connections between neurons, also that the complex connectivity of the hippocampus did not provide the best system to study the function of synapses He conducted experiments on mice, snails, slugs, flies (because studying and learning of memory in mammals was too complex)in order to support his findings in the field of memory

Memory Experiments Kandel investigated simpler models, such as the sea slug- Aplysia He concluded that the number of nerve cells compared to that of a mammal is fewer (20,000 cells) - it has a much simpler protective reflex that protects the gills -he also learned that certain types of stimuli resulted in the increasing/amplification of the protective reflex in the slug He was able to prove that synaptic function can be seen learning in the sea slug and mice applies to mammals as well

The Results of the Experiment Kandel’s experiment (consisting of mice, flies, snails, and slugs) have demonstrated the fundamental ways that nerve cells change their response to chemical signals to produce coordinated changes in behavior Short term memory involves a functional modulation of the synapses while long term memory requires the activation of genes and protein synthesis He showed that weaker stimuli gave rise to a form of short term memory and that there is an increased amount of transmitter at the synapse The final result is the shape of the synapse-which has a big effect on long term memory - long term requires proteins to be formed, but if protein synthesis is prevented, then the long term (processes and function) will be blocked

Kandel Today Kandel recently wrote a novel entitled: “In Search of Memory” The novel illuminates scientific development in our understanding of the brain’s role as well as his personal life Explains and discusses the difference between short and long term memory and how the brain stores these memories

Works Cited Http://science.education.nih/gov http://news-medical.net/health www.jewishVirtuallibrary.org