Dentate Gyrus

The dentate gyrus is part of the hippocampus, a brain structure critical for learning and memory. Located at the end of each hippocampal formation, the dentate gyrus plays a key role in the formation and storage of new memories, as well as helping to differentiate similar experiences. It is also believed to be involved in processing emotion and in the integration of information from multiple parts of the brain. In addition, the dentate gyrus is important for so-called “pattern separation”, which essentially enables the brain to distinguish between similar experiences and thus better remember and recall them. As a result, it is an important tool for understanding the brain’s ability to form and store memories, and for developing treatments for disorders related to memory formation.