There has been interest in the function of adult neurogenesis since its discovery, by Joseph Altman, nearly 60 years ago. While controversy curtailed follow up studies, in the 1990s a second wave of research validated many of Altman's original claims and revealed that factors such as stress and environmental stimulation altered the production of new neurons in the hippocampus. However, only with the advent of tools for manipulating neurogenesis did it become possible to perform causal tests of the function of newborn neurons. Here, we identify approximately 100 studies in which adult neurogenesis was manipulated to study its function. A majority of these studies demonstrate functions for adult neurogenesis in classic hippocampal behaviors such as context learning and spatial memory, as well as emotional behaviors related to stress, anxiety and depression. However, a closer look reveals a number of other, arguably understudied, functions in decision making, temporal association memory, and addiction. In this special issue, we present 16 new studies and review articles that continue to address and clarify the function of adult neurogenesis in behaviors as diverse as memory formation, consolidation and forgetting, pattern separation and discrimination behaviors, addiction, and attention. Reviews of stem cell dynamics and regenerative properties provide insights into the mechanisms by which neurogenesis may be controlled to offset age- and disease-related brain injury. Finally, translation-oriented reviews identify next steps for minimizing the gap between discoveries made in animals and applications for human health. The articles in this issue synthesize and extend what we have learned in the last half century of functional neurogenesis research and identify themes that will define its future.

中文翻译：

---

多年来的功能性神经发生。


自从约瑟夫·奥尔特曼 (Joseph Altman) 在近 60 年前发现成人神经发生的功能以来，人们一直对它感兴趣。虽然争议限制了后续研究，但 20 世纪 90 年代的第二波研究证实了 Altman 的许多最初主张，并揭示了压力和环境刺激等因素改变了海马体中新神经元的产生。然而，只有随着操纵神经发生的工具的出现，对新生神经元的功能进行因果测试才成为可能。在这里，我们确定了大约 100 项研究，其中操纵成体神经发生来研究其功能。这些研究中的大多数都证明了成人神经发生在经典海马行为中的功能，例如情境学习和空间记忆，以及与压力、焦虑和抑郁相关的情绪行为。然而，仔细观察就会发现决策、时间关联记忆和成瘾等方面的许多其他可能尚未得到充分研究的功能。在本期特刊中，我们提出了 16 篇新研究和评论文章，这些文章继续探讨和阐明成人神经发生在记忆形成、巩固和遗忘、模式分离和歧视行为、成瘾和注意力等多种行为中的功能。对干细胞动力学和再生特性的回顾提供了对控制神经发生以抵消与年龄和疾病相关的脑损伤的机制的见解。最后，以翻译为导向的评论确定了缩小动物发现与人类健康应用之间差距的下一步措施。 本期的文章综合并扩展了我们在过去半个世纪的功能性神经发生研究中所学到的知识，并确定了将定义其未来的主题。