Abstract
The entorhinal cortex, located in the medial temporal lobe, is a key region of the brain involved in memory, navigation, and spatial awareness. It is connected to various parts of the brain, including the hippocampus, perirhinal cortex, and prefrontal cortex, and is important for the formation and consolidation of long-term memories. Recent evidence suggests that entorhinal cortex dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. This article reviews the anatomy and physiology of the entorhinal cortex, its role in memory and navigation, and its potential involvement in various neurological disorders.
Introduction
The entorhinal cortex is a cortical region located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. It is a major hub for memory, navigation, and spatial awareness, and is connected to various other cortical and subcortical regions, including the hippocampus, perirhinal cortex, and prefrontal cortex (Eichenbaum et al., 2007). In recent years, evidence has suggested that entorhinal cortex dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy (Loft et al., 2017). This article will review the anatomy and physiology of the entorhinal cortex, its role in memory and navigation, and its potential involvement in various neurological disorders.
Anatomy and Physiology of Entorhinal Cortex
The entorhinal cortex is located in the medial temporal lobe, just anterior to the hippocampus (Eichenbaum et al., 2007). It is composed of six layers, with layer II containing the largest number of neurons (Loft et al., 2017). The entorhinal cortex is connected to numerous other brain regions, including the perirhinal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex (Loft et al., 2017). It is believed to act as a hub for information processing, integrating information from these various regions (Eichenbaum et al., 2007).
Role of Entorhinal Cortex in Memory and Navigation
The entorhinal cortex is believed to play a key role in memory and navigation. It has been found to be involved in the formation and consolidation of long-term memories (Eichenbaum et al., 2007). Animal studies have shown that lesions to the entorhinal cortex can impair memory formation (Loft et al., 2017). Additionally, the entorhinal cortex is believed to play a key role in spatial navigation, as lesions to this region can impair an animal’s ability to locate objects in a familiar environment (Loft et al., 2017).
Potential Involvement in Neurological Disorders
Recent evidence has suggested that the entorhinal cortex may be involved in various neurological disorders. It has been found to be impaired in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, with evidence suggesting that dysfunction of this region is associated with the cognitive decline seen in this disorder (Eichenbaum et al., 2007). Additionally, the entorhinal cortex has been found to be impaired in patients with schizophrenia and epilepsy (Loft et al., 2017).
Conclusion
The entorhinal cortex is a key region of the brain involved in memory, navigation, and spatial awareness. It is connected to various parts of the brain, including the hippocampus, perirhinal cortex, and prefrontal cortex, and is important for the formation and consolidation of long-term memories. Recent evidence suggests that entorhinal cortex dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Further research is needed to better understand the role of the entorhinal cortex in these disorders.
References
Eichenbaum, H., Yonelinas, A. P., & Ranganath, C. (2007). The medial temporal lobe and recognition memory. Annual review of neuroscience, 30(1), 123-152.
Loft, S., Vig, A., & Moser, E. I. (2017). The entorhinal cortex: Gatekeeper of the hippocampus. Physiological reviews, 97(3), 1087-1118.