Eric Kandel and the Eric Kandel and the HippocampusHippocampus

Tiana HobbsTiana HobbsNayira WarrenNayira WarrenDate: 11/09/12Date: 11/09/12

Period: 3BPeriod: 3B

Background on KandelBackground on Kandel Born in Vienna, Austria in Born in Vienna, Austria in

19291929

Currently a psychiatrist, Currently a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and professor neuroscientist, and professor of biochemistry at Columbia of biochemistry at Columbia University College of University College of Physicians and SurgeonsPhysicians and Surgeons

He developed a deep interest He developed a deep interest

in the biology of motivation in the biology of motivation and unconsciousness and and unconsciousness and conscious memory due to conscious memory due to FreudFreud

He attended both Harvard He attended both Harvard University and New York University and New York University of Medical SchoolUniversity of Medical School

The HippocampusThe Hippocampus

Function of the HippocampusFunction of the Hippocampus A major part of the brain A major part of the brain

Involved in the formation, storing and processing of Involved in the formation, storing and processing of memory (short and long term)memory (short and long term)

-inhibition, memory, and space-inhibition, memory, and space

Located in the temporal lobeLocated in the temporal lobe

There are two parts that interlock: the Ammon’s There are two parts that interlock: the Ammon’s horn and dentate gyrushorn and dentate gyrus

Synaptic GapSynaptic Gap

The gap between The gap between terminal buttons of a terminal buttons of a neuron and the neuron and the receiving cell receiving cell

Here is where chemical Here is where chemical messengers send messengers send electrical impulses to electrical impulses to the rest of the bodythe rest of the body

Sends memories to Sends memories to other parts of brain for other parts of brain for long term storage and long term storage and is able to retrieve the is able to retrieve the memories whenever memories whenever necessarynecessary

Memory ExperimentsMemory Experiments Kandel initially only studied Kandel initially only studied

and recorded the activity of and recorded the activity of nerve cells in the nerve cells in the hippocampushippocampus

However, Kandel began to However, Kandel began to realize that memory storage realize that memory storage must rely on modifications must rely on modifications in the synaptic connections in the synaptic connections between neurons, also that between neurons, also that the complex connectivity of the complex connectivity of the hippocampus did not the hippocampus did not provide the best system to provide the best system to study the function of study the function of synapsessynapses

He conducted He conducted experiments experiments on mice, snails, on mice, snails, slugs, flies (because slugs, flies (because studying and learning of studying and learning of memory in mammals was memory in mammals was too complex)in order to too complex)in order to support his findings in the support his findings in the field of memoryfield of memory

Memory ExperimentsMemory Experiments Kandel investigated simpler Kandel investigated simpler

models, such as the sea slug- models, such as the sea slug- Aplysia Aplysia

He concluded that the He concluded that the number of nerve cells number of nerve cells compared to that of a compared to that of a mammal is fewer (20,000 mammal is fewer (20,000 cells) cells)

- it has a much simpler - it has a much simpler protective reflex that protective reflex that protects the gills protects the gills

-he also learned that certain -he also learned that certain types of stimuli resulted in types of stimuli resulted in the increasing/amplification the increasing/amplification of the protective reflex in the of the protective reflex in the slug slug

He was able to prove that He was able to prove that synaptic function can be synaptic function can be seen learning in the sea slug seen learning in the sea slug and mice applies to and mice applies to mammals as wellmammals as well

The Results of the ExperimentThe Results of the Experiment Kandel’s experiment (consisting of mice, flies, snails, Kandel’s experiment (consisting of mice, flies, snails,

and slugs) have demonstrated the fundamental ways and slugs) have demonstrated the fundamental ways that nerve cells change their response to chemical that nerve cells change their response to chemical signals to produce coordinated changes in behaviorsignals to produce coordinated changes in behavior

Short term memory involves a functional modulation Short term memory involves a functional modulation of the synapses while long term memory requires of the synapses while long term memory requires the activation of genes and protein synthesisthe activation of genes and protein synthesis

He showed that weaker stimuli gave rise to a form of He showed that weaker stimuli gave rise to a form of short term memory and that there is an increased short term memory and that there is an increased amount of transmitter at the synapse amount of transmitter at the synapse

The final result is the shape of the synapse-which The final result is the shape of the synapse-which has a big effect on long term memory has a big effect on long term memory

- long term requires proteins to be formed, but if - long term requires proteins to be formed, but if protein synthesis is prevented, then the long term protein synthesis is prevented, then the long term (processes and function) will be blocked (processes and function) will be blocked

Kandel TodayKandel Today Kandel recently wrote a novel entitled: “In Search of Kandel recently wrote a novel entitled: “In Search of

Memory”Memory”

The novel illuminates scientific development in our The novel illuminates scientific development in our understanding of the brain’s role as well as his understanding of the brain’s role as well as his personal lifepersonal life

Explains and discusses the difference between short Explains and discusses the difference between short and long term memory and how the brain stores and long term memory and how the brain stores these memoriesthese memories

Works CitedWorks Cited Http://science.education.nih/govHttp://science.education.nih/gov

http://news-medical.net/healthhttp://news-medical.net/health

www.jewishVirtuallibrary.orgwww.jewishVirtuallibrary.org