Perforant path: Difference between revisions

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'''Perforant path''' is a projection of nerve fibers, originating in the [[lateral entorhinal cortex]] and terminating in the [[dentate gyrus]] and the [[hippocampal formation]]. It is one of the major pathways into the hippocampus, and is critical for [[memory]] and [[learning]] processes.
{{Short description|Overview of the perforant path in the brain}}


== Anatomy ==
==Perforant Path==
The '''perforant path''' is a major neural pathway in the brain that connects the [[entorhinal cortex]] to the [[hippocampus]]. It plays a crucial role in the formation and retrieval of [[memory]], particularly in the process of [[long-term potentiation]] (LTP), which is a cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory.


The perforant path originates in layer II of the lateral entorhinal cortex. From there, it projects to the outer two-thirds of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, and to the stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampal formation. The pathway is named for its perforating course through the subiculum.
[[File:HippocampalRegions.jpg|thumb|right|Diagram of the hippocampal regions, including the perforant path.]]


== Function ==
===Anatomy===
The perforant path originates in the [[entorhinal cortex]], which is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. From there, it projects to the [[dentate gyrus]] of the hippocampus. The pathway is named "perforant" because it "perforates" or passes through the [[subiculum]] to reach the dentate gyrus.


The perforant path is involved in the transmission of information from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus, a process that is crucial for memory formation and retrieval. It is also thought to play a role in spatial memory and navigation.
The perforant path is divided into two main components:
* The lateral perforant path, which arises from the lateral entorhinal cortex.
* The medial perforant path, which arises from the medial entorhinal cortex.


== Clinical significance ==
===Function===
The primary function of the perforant path is to transmit information from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus. This transmission is essential for the encoding of new memories and the retrieval of existing ones. The perforant path is involved in the process of [[synaptic plasticity]], which is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in their activity.


Damage to the perforant path has been implicated in a number of neurological disorders, including [[Alzheimer's disease]] and [[temporal lobe epilepsy]]. In Alzheimer's disease, degeneration of the perforant path is one of the earliest signs of the disease, and is associated with memory loss and cognitive decline. In temporal lobe epilepsy, abnormal electrical activity in the perforant path is thought to contribute to the generation of seizures.
===Role in Memory===
 
The perforant path is a critical component of the [[hippocampal formation]], which is involved in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory. It is also involved in spatial memory and navigation. Disruption of the perforant path can lead to impairments in these cognitive functions.
== See also ==


==Related pages==
* [[Hippocampus]]
* [[Entorhinal cortex]]
* [[Entorhinal cortex]]
* [[Dentate gyrus]]
* [[Dentate gyrus]]
* [[Hippocampus]]
* [[Long-term potentiation]]
* [[Memory]]
* [[Memory]]
* [[Alzheimer's disease]]
* [[Temporal lobe epilepsy]]
== References ==
<references />
{{stub}}


[[Category:Neuroanatomy]]
[[Category:Neuroscience]]
[[Category:Memory]]
[[Category:Memory]]
[[Category:Alzheimer's disease]]
[[Category:Temporal lobe epilepsy]]

Latest revision as of 11:20, 15 February 2025

Overview of the perforant path in the brain


Perforant Path[edit]

The perforant path is a major neural pathway in the brain that connects the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus. It plays a crucial role in the formation and retrieval of memory, particularly in the process of long-term potentiation (LTP), which is a cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory.

Diagram of the hippocampal regions, including the perforant path.

Anatomy[edit]

The perforant path originates in the entorhinal cortex, which is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. From there, it projects to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. The pathway is named "perforant" because it "perforates" or passes through the subiculum to reach the dentate gyrus.

The perforant path is divided into two main components:

  • The lateral perforant path, which arises from the lateral entorhinal cortex.
  • The medial perforant path, which arises from the medial entorhinal cortex.

Function[edit]

The primary function of the perforant path is to transmit information from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus. This transmission is essential for the encoding of new memories and the retrieval of existing ones. The perforant path is involved in the process of synaptic plasticity, which is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in their activity.

Role in Memory[edit]

The perforant path is a critical component of the hippocampal formation, which is involved in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory. It is also involved in spatial memory and navigation. Disruption of the perforant path can lead to impairments in these cognitive functions.

Related pages[edit]