Ovoid cells:
Researchers have discovered a new type of neuron that plays a fundamental role in recognition memory and named “ovoid cells.”
- These cells are named for the distinct egg-like shape of their cell bodies, are present in relatively small numbers within the hippocampus of humans, mice, and other animals.
- These are highly specialized neurons which get activated each time when we encounter something new.
- It triggers a process that stores those objects in memory and allows us to recognize them months, potentially even years later.
- They are quite distinct from other neurons at a cellular and functional level, and in terms of their neural circuitry.
- This discovery provides key insights into how memories form and could aid in the treatment of brain conditions related to object recognition, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder and epilepsy.
