A recent study from Tel Aviv University has discovered that the brain actively suppresses one type of learning, such as classical or operant conditioning, to prevent conflicting behaviors. Researchers used fruit flies to demonstrate that teaching both types of learning simultaneously results in confusion and no clear memory formation.
The study’s findings suggest that the brain prioritizes one learning system over the other to avoid conflict, reshaping our understanding of memory formation and offering potential insights into treating learning disorders. The research could inspire strategies for improving education and therapies for memory-related conditions.
Key discoveries include:
– Classical and operant conditioning cannot operate simultaneously in the brain.
– The brain’s navigation center suppresses one learning system to prevent conflicting behaviors.
– Insights from this study could lead to new strategies for treating learning disorders like ADHD or Alzheimer’s.
The research team, led by Prof. Moshe Parnas, found that fruit flies became confused and failed to exhibit a clear response when taught both types of conditioning simultaneously. The brain mechanisms identified in the study reveal how the navigation center intervenes to ensure only one type of memory is active at any given moment, preventing clashes between the two systems.
This discovery can help us understand why multitasking sometimes leads to forgetting important details and may lead to the development of new treatments for learning disorders. By better understanding how memories are formed in individuals with conditions like ADHD or Alzheimer’s, researchers may be able to create new strategies for treatment.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/classical-operant-conditioning-memory-28288