Obesity May Alter Brain Structure

It is no surprise that food has evolved to reflect our ‘fast-paced’ lifestyles. Despite the negative consequences that ‘junk food’ has on our bodies, it is affordable, convenient and tasty – which increases its popularity. Consequently, 27% of Canadian adults suffer from obesity (Statistics Canada, 2018). Obesity can be considered “a disease in which excess body…

The Hippocampus and Trace Fear Memory: Formation and Retrieval

The development of trace fear memories is considered a declarative task (generally referring to the act of naming something). This requires higher brain functions (e.g. attention, conscious awareness) and multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Previously, it was unclear how brain cells (termed “neurons”) involved in memory behave before learning,…