Abstract
Tool-use represents an origin of human intelligence. Besides only non-human primates and corvids have been known to posess its rudimentary capacity, we have recently proved, for the first time, tool-use in rodents -the degu (Octodon degu)-that they can be trained to use a rake-like tool to retrieve a reward. Hippocampal dentate gyrus is known to generate new neurons throughout adulthood, which exhibit morphology and physiological properties of established neurons. Such neurogenesis is particularly well studied in rodents to be enhanced during learning and memory processes. To elucidate cellular mechanisms of tool-use learning, we examined the effects of training to use a tool on the adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus using this novel rodent model.We found significantly more numbers of new neurons in tool-use trained, compared to sham-trained, group indicating that tool-use learning enhances adult dentate neurogenesis. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S169]
