Irish neuroscientists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered the mechanism by which memories are stored in the brain. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Current Biology.
Experts focused on special brain cells called engrams. Using genetic techniques, the team tagged two different groups of engram cells for two separate memories and then watched how new connections formed between these elements as learning occurred.
Using optogenetics, which allows the activity of brain cells to be controlled using light, scientists have shown how necessary these newly formed connections are for learning. In doing so, they identified a molecular mechanism mediated by a specific protein involved in regulating communication between engrams at the synapse.
“Engram memory cells are groups of brain cells that, when activated by specific experiences, change to contain and therefore retain information in our brains. Reactivation of these “building blocks” of memories recalls specific events associated with them. The question is: How do engrams store meaningful information about the world?” – the lead author of the article, Dr. said Clara Ortega de San Luis.
The study provides direct evidence that changes in synaptic connections between engram cells can be considered as a possible mechanism for memory storage in the brain.
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Source: Gazeta
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