The cerebellum plays a role in a wide variety of complex behaviors. In order to better understand the role of the cerebellum in human behavior, it is important to know how this structure interacts with cortical and other subcortical regions of the brain. To date, several studies have investigated the cerebellum using resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI; Krienen and Buckner, 2009; O'Reilly et al., 2010; Buckner et al., 2011). However, none of this work has taken an anatomically-driven lobular approach. Furthermore, though detailed maps of cerebral cortex and cerebellum networks have been proposed using different network solutions based on the cerebral cortex (Buckner et al., 2011), it remains unknown whether or not an anatomical lobular breakdown best encompasses the networks of the cerebellum. Here, we used fcMRI to create an anatomically-driven connectivity atlas of the cerebellar lobules. Timecourses were extracted from the lobules of the right hemisphere and vermis. We found distinct networks for the individual lobules with a clear division into “motor” and “non-motor” regions. We also used a self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm to parcellate the cerebellum. This allowed us to investigate redundancy and independence of the anatomically identified cerebellar networks. We found that while anatomical boundaries in the anterior cerebellum provide functional subdivisions of a larger motor grouping defined using our SOM algorithm, in the posterior cerebellum, the lobules were made up of sub-regions associated with distinct functional networks. Together, our results indicate that the lobular boundaries of the human cerebellum are not necessarily indicative of functional boundaries, though anatomical divisions can be useful. Additionally, driving the analyses from the cerebellum is key to determining the complete picture of functional connectivity within the structure.

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There has been an increasing body of evidence that a variety of factors, including physical activity, nutrition, and body composition, have a relationship with brain structure and function in school-aged children. Within the brain, the hippocampus is particularly sensitive to modulation by these lifestyle factors. This brain structure is known to be critical in learning and memory, and, we suggest, for progress in the classroom. Accordingly, the aims of this article include (1) examining the role of hippocampus and hippocampal-dependent memory in supporting academic performance; (2) reviewing the literature related to the associations between hippocampal-dependent memory and a number of lifestyle factors, including physical activity, nutrition, and body composition; and (3) discussing the implications of these findings in an educational setting. The findings discussed suggest that, through interventions that target these lifestyle factors, it may be possible to improve hippocampal function and academic performance in school-aged children.Understanding lifestyle factors that contribute to cognitive health is of growing concern globally and considerable research is focused on both identifying factors that affect cognition and developing interventions to improve cognitive

Creativity depends on the ability to combine existing mental representations in new ways and depends, in part, on the hippocampus. Hippocampal function is, in turn, affected by a number of health factors, including aerobic fitness, excess adiposity, and diet. Specifically, in rodent studies, diets high in saturated fatty acids and sugar -hallmarks of a western diet-have been shown to negatively impact hippocampal function and thereby impair performance on cognitive tasks that require the hippocampus. Yet relatively few studies have examined the relationship between diet and hippocampal-dependent cognition in children. The current study therefore sought to explore the relationship of several diet quality markers including dietary lipids (saturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids), simple carbohydrates (added sugars), and dietary fiber with creativity in preadolescent children. Participants (N = 57; mean age = 9.1 years) completed the Verbal Form of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT), a standardized test of creativity known to require the hippocampus. Additionally, participants completed a 3-day food intake record with the assistance of a parent, underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess central adiposity, and VO 2 max testing to assess aerobic fitness. Added sugar intake was negatively associated, and dietary fiber was positively associated with overall TTCT performance. These

Dietary carotenoids, plant pigments with anti-oxidant properties, accumulate in neural tissue and are often found in lower concentrations among individuals with obesity. Given previous evidence of negative associations between excess adiposity and memory, it is possible that greater carotenoid status may confer neuroprotective effects among persons with overweight or obesity. This study aimed to elucidate relationships between carotenoids assessed in diet, serum, and the macula (macular pigment optical density (MPOD)) and relational memory among adults who are overweight or obese. Adults aged 25–45 years (N = 94) completed a spatial reconstruction task. Task performance was evaluated for accuracy of item placement during reconstruction relative to the location of the item during the study phase. Dietary carotenoids were assessed using 7-day diet records. Serum carotenoids were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between carotenoids and task performance. Although initial correlations indicated that dietary lutein, beta-carotene, and serum beta-carotene were positively associated with memory performance, these relationships were not sustained following adjustment for age, sex, and BMI. Serum lutein remained positively associated with accuracy in object binding and inversely related to misplacement error after controlling for covariates. Macular carotenoids were not related to memory performance. Findings from this study indicate that among the carotenoids evaluated, lutein may play an important role in hippocampal function among adults who are overweight or obese.

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Researchers have taken a number of different approaches in their exploration of hippocampal function. One approach seeks to describe hippocampal function by probing the memory representations that the hippocampus supports. Another approach focuses on the role of the hippocampus in pattern separation and completion. Each of these approaches to understanding hippocampal function utilizes a distinct set of specialized tasks, and both of these task sets are known to be sensitive to changes in hippocampal function with age and disease status. But the question remains whether the tasks utilized in these two approaches tap into the same aspects of hippocampal function. We explored this question in the context of hippocampal development. Preadolescent children (N = 73) and young adults (N = 41) completed an identical battery of cognitive tasks consisting of a spatial reconstruction relational memory task, the mnemonic similarity task (MST)—an object‐based pattern separation task, and a novel hybrid task—the Object Discrimination and Distribution (ODD) Task—designed to integrate and simultaneously tax pattern separation and spatial relational memory. Children did not demonstrate impairments in lure discrimination relative to young adults on either the object‐based pattern separation task or for aspects of the ODD task that required pattern separation in the absence of relational memory demands but performed more poorly across aspects of tasks that required relational binding.

Objectives A converging body of evidence indicates elevated weight status is inversely related to memory forms that disproportionately rely on the hippocampus. However, much of this work has relied on BMI, resulting in a limited understanding of the impact of body composition on memory performance. Accordingly, this study investigated the influence of soft tissue compartments (i.e., lean and fat mass) on hippocampal-dependent memory function. Using a mnemonic discrimination task, we examined lure discrimination, a measure of hippocampal memory ability. It was anticipated that lean body mass would relate positively, and fat mass negatively to lure discrimination ability. Methods Participants included 216 individuals (134 females) between the ages of 25 and 46 years. Participants provided demographic information such as sex, age, and income. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess height-adjusted lean and fat mass (LMI and FMI, respectively). Lure discrimination, the ability to correctly identify objects similar to those seen during encoding, was assessed using the Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST). Bivariate correlations were conducted to determine demographic predictors of task performance. Subsequently, a linear regression model controlling for significant predictors was used to determine LMI and FMI influence on lure discrimination. Results Preliminary data analysis showed a positive correlation between BMI and MST performance. Follow-up bivariate correlations revealed an underlying positive association between LMI and lure discrimination (r = .153, P = .029), while FMI and lure discrimination were not significantly associated (r = .087, P = .218). A linear regression model controlling for age and income showed LMI accounted for a significant proportion of variance in lure discrimination (R2 = .070, P = .002), adjusting for demographic variables. Conclusions These findings indicate that while BMI is related to lure discrimination, this effect appears to be driven by LMI, but not FMI. Future studies are warranted to determine the impact of changes in lean mass on hippocampal memory performance. Funding Sources Funding provided by the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Project 1009249. Partial support provided by the Hass Avocado Board.