Role of hippocampal dentate granule cells in memory: neuronal birth timing matters

Blin N(1), Abrous DN(2).

Author information:
(1)Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Magendie, U1215, Neurogenesis and Pathophysiology
Group, F-33000, Bordeaux, France. .
(2)Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Magendie, U1215, Neurogenesis and Pathophysiology
Group, F-33000, Bordeaux, France. .

The dentate gyrus is a critical hub for hippocampal-dependent memory and is
distinguished by its capacity for lifelong neurogenesis, resulting in a
heterogeneous population of granule cells generated across embryonic, postnatal,
adolescent, and adult stages. Although extensive work has examined the
functional contributions of immature adult-born granule cells, whether granule
cells born at different life stages retain distinct functional roles once they
reach maturity has remained largely unexplored. In this review, we synthesize
findings from anatomical, physiological, and behavioral studies that, while not
designed to address this question directly, collectively support the proposal
that temporal origin constitutes a previously underappreciated organizing
principle of dentate gyrus function. We argue that neurons born at different
life stages differ not only in their morphological and electrophysiological
properties but in the distinct aspects of memory functions they support.
Understanding how neuronal birth timing shapes hippocampal computation across
the lifespan may have broader implications for conditions in which memory is
compromised, from cognitive aging to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative
disorders, and we hope this framework encourages the more systematic, temporally
precise investigations that will be needed to explore them.

© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

DOI: 10.1038/s41380-026-03745-7
PMID: 42481745

Conflict of interest statement: Competing interests: The authors declare no
competing interests.

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus