--- title: "Neurogenesis | Cognitive Psychology" description: "Neurogenesis is the birth of new neurons, especially in the hippocampus, and cognitive psychology uses it to explain learning, memory, and brain change." canonical: "https://fiveable.me/cognitive-psychology/key-terms/neurogenesis" type: "key-term" subject: "Cognitive Psychology" unit: "Unit 19" --- # Neurogenesis | Cognitive Psychology ## Definition Neurogenesis is the creation of new neurons, mostly in the hippocampus. In cognitive psychology, it comes up when you study how the brain changes with learning, memory, stress, and aging. ## What It Is Neurogenesis is the process of making new neurons, and in cognitive psychology it is usually discussed as part of how the brain stays adaptable over time. The clearest example is the hippocampus, a brain area tied to forming new memories and learning new information. This term is not just about brain growth in childhood. In the cognitive psychology context, it refers to the idea that the adult brain can still generate new neurons in limited regions, which adds to the brain’s ability to change with experience. That makes neurogenesis part of the larger picture of neuroplasticity, the brain’s capacity to reorganize its structure and function. A useful way to think about it is this: if you practice a skill, study new material, or spend time in an enriched environment, your brain is not just “using” existing cells more efficiently. Some research suggests it may also be building new neural resources, especially in systems involved in memory. That is why neurogenesis is often linked to learning, memory formation, and recovery after stress or injury. The hippocampus matters here because it helps encode and organize new memories. When neurogenesis is healthy, it may support memory flexibility, pattern separation, and the ability to distinguish similar experiences. If neurogenesis is reduced, memory problems can show up more easily, especially in conditions connected to aging, chronic stress, or neurological disease. You will also see neurogenesis discussed with factors that shape the brain over time. Exercise, social stimulation, and enriched environments are often described as supporting it, while stress and aging may reduce it. In a Cognitive Psychology class, that turns neurogenesis into a bridge between biology and behavior: it is one more way to explain why experience can leave a physical mark on the brain. ## Why It Matters Neurogenesis matters in Cognitive Psychology because it gives you a biological explanation for changes in memory and learning. Instead of treating memory as a fixed ability, this term shows that the brain can change in response to experience, which fits the broader study of neuroplasticity. It also helps you make sense of why some conditions affect cognition the way they do. For example, if a person is under chronic stress or is aging, reduced neurogenesis in the hippocampus may help explain weaker memory formation or slower learning. That connection shows up in topics like memory disorders, mild cognitive impairment, and some depression research. The term also gives you a way to interpret research claims. If a study says exercise improved memory, you can ask whether the effect might be linked to hippocampal change, better synaptic functioning, or increased neuron growth. That kind of reasoning is exactly what cognitive psychology asks you to do, connect behavior to underlying brain processes instead of stopping at surface symptoms. ## Connections ### Neuroplasticity Neurogenesis is one specific form of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the broader idea that the brain can change its structure and function with experience, while neurogenesis focuses on the creation of new neurons. In a class question, neuroplasticity is the umbrella term and neurogenesis is one mechanism that fits underneath it. ### Hippocampus The hippocampus is the brain region most often linked to neurogenesis in cognitive psychology. It matters because it supports forming new memories and learning new information. If a question describes new neuron growth tied to memory, the hippocampus is usually the structure you should think about first. ### Dendritic Growth Dendritic growth and neurogenesis both involve the brain changing with experience, but they are not the same thing. Dendritic growth refers to neurons growing more branches and connections, while neurogenesis means new neurons are being made. A brain can get better at processing information through both processes. ### [Structural plasticity](/cognitive-psychology/key-terms/structural-plasticity) Structural plasticity is the change in the brain’s physical wiring and anatomy over time. Neurogenesis is one example of structural plasticity because it changes the number of neurons in a region. If a scenario mentions the brain physically changing after learning, practice, or enrichment, structural plasticity is the bigger idea. ## On the AP Exam A quiz or short-answer question might describe a person who exercises regularly, studies in a stimulating environment, or shows memory changes after chronic stress, and ask you to identify the brain process involved. Your job is to connect the behavior or condition to neurogenesis, especially if the hippocampus is mentioned. If the prompt asks why memory improves or worsens over time, you can explain that new neuron formation may support learning and memory, while reduced neurogenesis can be linked to decline. In a written response, use the term to connect brain structure to cognitive performance, not just to repeat that the brain changes. If the scenario is about depression, aging, or memory loss, mention that researchers study neurogenesis as one possible factor in those outcomes. ## neurogenesis vs Neuroplasticity These are related, but neuroplasticity is the broad idea that the brain can change with experience, while neurogenesis is the specific creation of new neurons. If a question is about the whole brain adapting, use neuroplasticity. If it is about new nerve cells being formed, use neurogenesis. ## Key Takeaways - Neurogenesis is the process of creating new neurons, and in Cognitive Psychology it is discussed as one way the brain adapts to experience. - The hippocampus is the main region associated with neurogenesis because it supports learning and memory formation. - Exercise, enrichment, and social stimulation are often linked to healthier neurogenesis, while stress and aging can reduce it. - Neurogenesis is one piece of the larger story of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change its structure and function. - When you see neurogenesis in a scenario, think about memory, learning, stress, aging, or brain change after experience. ## FAQs ### What is neurogenesis in Cognitive Psychology? Neurogenesis is the creation of new neurons, especially in the hippocampus. In Cognitive Psychology, it is used to explain how the brain supports learning, memory, and adaptation over time. ### Is neurogenesis the same as neuroplasticity? No. Neuroplasticity is the broad ability of the brain to change, while neurogenesis is one specific type of change, the formation of new neurons. Think of neuroplasticity as the umbrella term and neurogenesis as one part of it. ### Why is the hippocampus linked to neurogenesis? The hippocampus is strongly tied to forming new memories, so it is the region most often discussed when researchers talk about adult neurogenesis. If the hippocampus is damaged or functioning poorly, memory and learning problems are more likely to show up. ### How does neurogenesis show up in class questions? It usually shows up in examples about memory, aging, exercise, stress, or depression. You may need to identify the brain process in a scenario, explain why memory changed, or connect brain structure to behavior. ## Related Study Guides - [19.1 Memory Disorders](/cognitive-psychology/unit-19/memory-disorders/study-guide/CMPICnPxqvmyGVYr) - [15.2 Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Processes](/cognitive-psychology/unit-15/neuroplasticity-cognitive-processes/study-guide/jeNpOF9B8ntbkyaE) ## About This Document Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`. - [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns - [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing - [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`) - [MCP server for AP teachers](https://fiveable.me/mcp/teachers): a teacher's classes, assignments and AP-rubric grading (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp/teacher`) ## Structured Data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"LearningResource","@id":"https://fiveable.me/cognitive-psychology/key-terms/neurogenesis#resource","name":"Neurogenesis | Cognitive Psychology","url":"https://fiveable.me/cognitive-psychology/key-terms/neurogenesis","learningResourceType":"Concept explainer","educationalLevel":"AP® / High School","about":{"@id":"https://fiveable.me/cognitive-psychology/key-terms/neurogenesis#term"},"audience":{"@type":"EducationalAudience","educationalRole":"student"},"dateModified":"2026-07-03T02:21:13.815Z","isPartOf":{"@type":"Collection","name":"Cognitive Psychology Key Terms","url":"https://fiveable.me/cognitive-psychology/key-terms"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://fiveable.me/editorial#content-team","name":"Fiveable Content Team","url":"https://fiveable.me/editorial","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://fiveable.me/#organization"},"member":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda DoAmaral","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/adoamaral"]},{"@type":"Person","name":"Becky Bahr","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-bahr-b52743132"]}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Fiveable","url":"https://fiveable.me"}},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","@id":"https://fiveable.me/cognitive-psychology/key-terms/neurogenesis#term","name":"neurogenesis","description":"Neurogenesis is the creation of new neurons, mostly in the hippocampus. 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