Scientists have discovered that the brain forms “cold memories” which can later trigger increased metabolism, even without a drop in temperature. Researchers trained mice to associate specific visual cues with cold environments and found that these animals could heat themselves in anticipation of cold temperatures, driven by brain-stored memories.
The study, led by Professor Tomás Ryan at Trinity College Dublin, highlights the deep connections between memory, behavior, and metabolism. The researchers identified engram cells in the hippocampus as responsible for storing cold-related memories and demonstrated that stimulating these cells could artificially activate thermogenesis, a process of adaptive thermogenesis.
This groundbreaking work opens up potential therapeutic strategies for conditions like obesity and cancer by harnessing learned thermal regulation. It also sheds light on how memory influences broader aspects of behavior and emotional processing. The findings have far-reaching implications for the development of new treatments and may provide insights into the embodied nature of the mind.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/think-cold-burn-fat-how-your-brains-memories-help-you-lose-weight