Figure 1

Adult neurogenesis modulates the hippocampus dependent periods of memory. The vertical axis shows the HPC dependence of contextual fear memory. The horizontal axis shows the days after learning. The HPC dependence of contextual fear memory gradually decays with time in control mice. In contrast, X-ray irradiation or genetic overexpression of follistatin (FSM), both of which severely impair hippocampal neurogenesis, prolong the HPC-dependent periods of contextual fear memory, when compared to control mice. Conversely, the running wheel exercises, which promote hippocampal neurogenesis, speed up the decay rate of the HPC dependency of contextual fear memory, when compared to control mice.