Memory and Survival

Have you ever eaten Guinea fowl? They have become a bit of a gourmet favourite in Europe in recent years, but these birds are a nutritional staple across many sub-Saharan African countries. Mainly kept by smallholder farmers they provide a valuable protein source for the family and also an income to assist with food bills and school fees. These farmers face many challenges that will grow worse as the effects of climate change are felt. Want to know more about how our international team are working to improve guinea fowl welfare and health and help to create a more sustainable guinea fowl system?

Can you remember where you parked your car? This type of memory is called episodic memory and helps us deal with everyday life. Problems with episodic memory are the first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. In my lab we study the hippocampus, the part of the brain we need for episodic memory. Recently, it has been found that (unlike any other brain area) the hippocampus generates new neurons each day. We recently found that these new born neurons help us with difficult memory problems and that increasing exercise and environmental stimulation can increase the production of these neurons.