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Scientists Make Landmark Discovery Through Study Involving Mice on Human Brain and Memory Processing
The human memory is one of the most fascinating aspects of the brain, and for a long time scientists have been trying to understand how we manage to store, process, and sometimes forget information. Recently, a team of researchers from Cornell University in the United States made a discovery through a study involving mice that could provide answers to these questions.
Using mice as a model, the scientists discovered an innovative process that could revolutionize our understanding of how memory works and its implications for conditions like Alzheimer’s.
What Is Memory and How Does It Work?
Human memory is a complex phenomenon that involves the brain’s ability to store information and recollections.
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When we forget something, there’s a possibility that new memories have “replaced” the old ones.
This idea, which was popularized in an episode of “The Simpsons,” reflects a theory known as “catastrophic forgetting.” In this phenomenon, the formation of new memories can indeed interfere with older ones.
But how does the human brain handle this process?
The Cornell team, led by researcher Azahara Oliva, was able to take an important step toward answering this question.
They discovered that mice are capable of preserving their existing memories while processing new information, and this occurs during different stages of sleep.
Mice as the Key to Understanding Human Memory
Mice are commonly used in scientific studies because their brains share similarities with humans.
In this study, the researchers explored an interesting phenomenon that occurs while mice are sleeping.
During sleep, the pupils of the mice undergo changes in size: they repeatedly constrict and then return to their normal size.
What the team discovered is that when the pupils are small, the brain is processing new memories, and when they are dilated, the brain is consolidating older memories.
This finding indicates that the mouse’s brain — and possibly the human one — divides the memory storage process into two distinct phases during sleep.
One phase focuses on incorporating new memories, while the other reinforces older knowledge.
This division may be a way for the brain to prevent new memories from “erasing” the old ones, which could lead to memory and learning issues.
Innovative Technology to Study Memory
The research team used an innovative approach to study the brains of the mice.
The animals were genetically modified so that their neurons responded to light, allowing the scientists to stimulate specific brain cells using optical fibers.
Additionally, the mice wore a helmet with a camera to monitor the size of their pupils, which helped researchers determine which phase of sleep they were in.
The study revealed that, during deep sleep, the brains of the mice were replaying recent experiences, such as learning a maze, while in the small-pupil phase.
However, when scientists suppressed the activity of certain neurons during this phase, the mice were unable to remember the path they had learned. This suggested that the memory formation process was being interrupted.
On the other hand, when neurons were suppressed during the dilated-pupil phase, which occurs after processing new memories, the mice were still able to remember the path and find the reward. This demonstrated that the consolidation of older memories was not affected.
Implications for Treating Neurological Diseases
Scientists believe that the discovery about how the brain processes and consolidates memories could have significant implications for medicine, especially in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
“We think this mechanism might be related to the natural aging of the brain, and it could perhaps explain some of the symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer’s,” said study co-author Antonio Fernandez Ruiz.
Additionally, this discovery could be useful in treating memory disorders related to trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Based on this knowledge, it may be possible in the future to develop therapies to erase specific memories, such as traumatic experiences, or to reinforce memories that have become damaged.
Applications for Artificial Intelligence
The study also provides insights for the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Just like the human brain, AI systems can face challenges in integrating new information without forgetting previous learning.
The discovery about memory processing can help improve how machines deal with incorporating new data without compromising existing knowledge.
With information from: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/articles/cy5kg1qk9eyo
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