New study reveals that the epigenetic state of neurons determines their role in memory formation. Neurons with open chromatin states are more likely to be recruited into memory traces and demonstrate higher electrical activity during learning. Researchers found that manipulating these epigenetic states in mice can enhance or impair learning, shifting focus from synaptic plasticity to nuclear processes in memory encoding. This discovery may lead to new treatments for cognitive disorders as many of them are characterized by epigenetic mechanisms gone wrong.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/epigenetics-memory-synaptic-plasticity-26485/