Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about how our brains link memories formed close in time. Using advanced imaging techniques, scientists observed memory formation in mice and found that memories are stored in the spiny extensions of neurons called dendrites.
According to lead author Megha Sehgal, the key to linking memories is not in the cell bodies of neurons, but rather in their dendritic branches. When one memory forms, the affected dendrites become “primed” to capture new information arriving within a short period of time, creating a link between memories formed close together.
The study focused on the retrosplenial cortex, a brain region crucial for spatial and contextual memory. The researchers found that linked memories consistently engaged the same groups of neurons and their dendritic branches. This process strengthens communication between neurons and facilitates learning.
To confirm the role of dendrites in linking memories, the team used optogenetics to control neurons with light. By reactivating specific dendritic segments that had been active during memory formation, they were able to link otherwise unrelated memories, further demonstrating the importance of dendritic changes in shaping memory networks.
This discovery has significant implications for understanding how memories are organized and could lead to new possibilities for manipulating higher-order memory processes. It also suggests exciting new avenues for developing therapies for memory-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: https://news.osu.edu/how-the-brain-links-related-memories-formed-close-in-time