New Study Reveals Noise Impacts Hippocampus-Related Learning and Memory

The potential health risks of noise pollution accompany industrialization are gaining increasing attention. Previous research in animal models has proved the negative impact of noise on the auditory system. The neural mechanisms underlying the impacts of noise on nonauditory function, particularly learning and memory, remain largely unknown. A new study led by Institute faculty Xiaoming Zhou revealed in a rodent model that moderate-level noise can substantially impair hippocampus-related learning and memory by altering the plasticity of synaptic transmission. The research was published in a recent issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Journal Reference:

Zhang, Y., Zhu, M., Sun, Y., Tang, B., Zhang, G., An, P., … & Zhou, X. (2021). Environmental noise degrades hippocampus-related learning and memoryProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(1), e2017841117.

 

>> To read the article in Chinese, click here.

Source: School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University