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Neuroscientists at University College London are studying the impact of memory on the brain’s “internal GPS system”.
The UCL researchers conducted a study published in the journal Cell. As part of the study, the scientists used laser beams to “position cells” (a type of neuron) in mice. These cells are found in a region of the brain called the hippocampus.
By stimulating local cells using lasers, the scientists were able to “reactivate (or retrieve) the memory of a place where the mice obtained a reward, which in turn” mentally teleported “the mice, causing them to act like if they were in the award seat, “according to a UCL press release.
As part of the experiment, the mice were first placed in a place where they were given sugar water as a reward. The cellular activity of the place was then recorded. The mice were then taken to another location where the scientists performed targeted activation of the local cells to trigger a “mental teleportation” inside the mice. The mice, believing they had arrived on the spot with the sugar water reward, began looking for the reward in the second position.
The study was intended to provide that place that cellular memory underlies the way the brain navigates.
The first author, Dr. Nick Robinson (UCL Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research), said: “These findings provide direct causal evidence that mice use information represented by local cellular activity to guide their behavior. In other words, local cells say. really the mouse is where they are, and the mice actually “listen” to their position cells when making decisions. This provides new insight into how memories are stored in the brain, as well as new tools to manipulate these memories to influence behavior. ” .
According to Dr. Robinson, this study could help in a better understanding of memory disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as help in new targets for therapeutic intervention.
Senior author, Professor Michael Hausser (UCL Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research), said: “This study is a game changer as it shows that we can use optical reading and writing activity in specific neurons to manipulate memories. , allowing us to better understand – and potentially improve – how neural circuit activity helps us make decisions. “
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