Hippocampal development

The hippocampal formation plays a critical role in navigation and memory under normal conditions. In pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy, the hippocampus represents one of the first brain regions to suffer damage. When hippocampal development is abnormal, pathological conditions featuring cognitive dysfunction and seizures are common, particularly in children. This publication summarizes new data and relevant findings to a critical understanding of hippocampal development - from anatomy to physiology and from rodents to human. It provides original articles on developmental pathology and on the ongoing role of developmental signaling systems in adults. Broadly, the topics include processes involved in the development of normal or abnormal hippocampus and pathological implications associated with normal or abnormal development, and neurogenesis in an immature or adult hippocampus. Presenting a wide-ranging collection of contributions on hippocampal development, this issue will be of great value for neurobiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists and pediatricians.