Brain Found to Retain Three Copies of Each Memory

Similar to a computer system with built-in redundancies, a study has discovered that the brain uses three distinct sets of neurons to store a single memory. This finding might eventually aid in alleviating painful memories for those who have experienced trauma.

Researchers at the University of Basel’s Biozentrum imaged the brains of mice to observe memory formation. They found that forming a new memory involves activating three different sets of neurons.

The first set, early-born neurons, develop early during fetal growth. The second set, late-born neurons, appear late in embryonic development. The third set consists of neurons that form in the middle of fetal development.

The imaging study showed that memories stored in early-born neurons are initially difficult to retrieve but strengthen over time.

Memory Stability Varies

In contrast, memories stored in late-born neurons are initially very strong but gradually weaken, eventually becoming inaccessible. Memories stored in middle-born neurons, however, demonstrated greater stability compared to those in either of the other two neuron groups.

Flavio Donato Highlights the Brain’s Dual Challenge with Memory

“The brain’s challenge with memory is quite remarkable,” says Flavio Donato, head of the research group at Biozentrum. “On one hand, it needs to retain past events to help us understand our world. On the other, it must adapt to ongoing changes, requiring our memories to adjust so we can make suitable future decisions.”

With their new insights, the researchers delved deeper into how memories are formed and accessed. Although the study was conducted on mice, which are frequently used in neuroscience due to their similar cortical cell types to humans (75 in total), the findings are specific to mice at this stage.

The researchers believe their findings could have implications for treating individuals affected by traumatic events. Their work suggests it may be possible to alter memories in the brain. For instance, if a memory is still recent and resides in the late-born neurons, it might be possible to modify it before it is transferred to the middle and early-born neurons for long-term storage.

Once a memory is established in the late-born neurons, however, modifying it becomes increasingly difficult. Essentially, the longer a memory has been stored, the harder it is to change.

Vilde Kveim, the study’s lead author, notes, “The dynamic nature of memory storage in the brain highlights its plasticity, which supports its vast memory capacity.”

Understanding this plasticity could eventually assist scientists in helping people recover memories they believed were lost or reduce intrusive, painful memories that disrupt daily life.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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