The study investigates the impact of increasing adult hippocampal neurogenesis on cognitive and behavioral functions. Researchers developed a genetic strategy to induce the survival of adult-born neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) by abrogating Bax, a pro-apoptotic gene, in neural stem cells. This approach significantly increased the number of adult-born neurons and enhanced their survival. Mice with increased adult hippocampal neurogenesis showed improved performance in a contextual fear discrimination task, where they could distinguish between two similar contexts, suggesting enhanced pattern separation. However, these mice did not exhibit anxiolytic or antidepressant-like behaviors. Combining the genetic expansion of adult hippocampal neurogenesis with voluntary exercise further increased exploratory behavior but did not produce additional behavioral effects. The findings suggest that increasing adult hippocampal neurogenesis may have therapeutic potential for improving pattern separation in conditions such as normal aging and anxiety disorders.The study investigates the impact of increasing adult hippocampal neurogenesis on cognitive and behavioral functions. Researchers developed a genetic strategy to induce the survival of adult-born neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) by abrogating Bax, a pro-apoptotic gene, in neural stem cells. This approach significantly increased the number of adult-born neurons and enhanced their survival. Mice with increased adult hippocampal neurogenesis showed improved performance in a contextual fear discrimination task, where they could distinguish between two similar contexts, suggesting enhanced pattern separation. However, these mice did not exhibit anxiolytic or antidepressant-like behaviors. Combining the genetic expansion of adult hippocampal neurogenesis with voluntary exercise further increased exploratory behavior but did not produce additional behavioral effects. The findings suggest that increasing adult hippocampal neurogenesis may have therapeutic potential for improving pattern separation in conditions such as normal aging and anxiety disorders.