New study in relation between memory and spatial cognition

A new study has been conducted to examine how memory and spatial cognition are related to each other within the brain.

In news that may be of interest to anti aging physicians, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Veteran Affairs San Diego Healthcare System examined the movement of memory-impaired patients within their own environment.

Research suggests that the mind's ability to calculate the distance and direction of a journey is an important aspect of spatial thinking.

However, in contradiction with this belief, the team proposes that the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, two major medial temporal lobe structures which is thought to be the area responsible for spatial cognition, were not essential for path integration.

This was suggested following assessments that involved patients being led blindfolded and with earphones on around several paths before being asked to point to the starting point.

Larry R Squire who led the study said: "We showed that the tests could be successfully accomplished despite damage to these brain regions."

These findings are set to be published in the early online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week, Medical News Today reports.