Hippocampal Development and Epilepsy: Insights from Organoid Models

The hippocampus is a crucial component of the human brain. It is located on the medial side of the temporal lobe and is connected to the limbic system, influencing memory and cognitive function. The critical functions of the hippocampus have a profound impact on an individual's overall ability to maintain daily life functioning. In adults, hippocampal damage impairs cognitive functions, including memory, learning, and emotional regulation. It is associated with conditions such as memory impairment, Alzheimer's disease, various forms of dementia, depression, and stress-related disorders. Damage to the developing hippocampus can have broad and profound, leading to deficits in memory development, language acquisition, and behavioral and emotional regulation, thereby impairing the individual's ability to maintain normal daily functioning. One of the major factors affecting hippocampal development is epilepsy. Therefore, identifying the mechanism underlying epilepsy-induced hippocampal damage and developing therapeutic strategies to reduce or prevent epileptic events that significantly impair hippocampal maturation are of critical importance. Numerous studies have been conducted in this regard, and given the challenges of directly studying the human brain, organoid-based research approaches have gained increasing attention and widespread application. In particular, hippocampal organoids have emerged as valuable models for investigating various hippocampal functions; however, definitive findings have yet to be established. Therefore, elucidating the structural characteristics and underlying mechanisms of epilepsy using hippocampal organoids, and exploring potential strategies to mitigate its effects remains an important direction for future research.