Final answer:
Neurogenesis is the process of forming new neurons in the brain. It occurs in the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory. Exercise and certain medications promote neurogenesis, while stress inhibits it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neurogenesis is the process of forming new neurons in the brain. It was previously believed that people were born with all the neurons they would ever have, but research has shown that neurogenesis continues into adulthood. About 1000 new neurons develop in the hippocampus each day, which is a brain structure involved in learning and memory. While most of these new neurons will die, an increase in the number of surviving new neurons in the hippocampus has been found to correlate with improved learning. Exercise and some antidepressant medications also promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus, while stress has the opposite effect. Although neurogenesis is limited compared to regeneration in other tissues, it holds potential for the development of new treatments for disorders such as Alzheimer's, stroke, and epilepsy.