gizmag
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
Researchers may have discovered how memories are encoded in the brain
By Ben Coxworth
13:07 March 21, 2012
While it's generally accepted that memories are stored somewhere, somehow in
our brains, the exact process has never been entirely understood.
Strengthened synaptic connections between neurons definitely have something
to do with it, although the synaptic membranes involved are constantly
degrading and being replaced - this seems to be somewhat at odds with the
fact that some memories can last for a person's lifetime. Now, a team of
scientists believe that they may have figured out what's going on. Their
findings could have huge implications for the treatment of diseases such as
Alzheimer's.
Leading the study is Prof. Jack Tuszynski, a physicist from the University
of Alberta. Also taking part are his graduate student Travis Craddock, and
the University of Arizona's Prof. Stuart Hameroff.
The project was inspired by an outside research paper, that described
experiments in which memories were successfully erased from animals' brains.
That study concluded that a specific protein (calcium-calmodulin dependent
kinase complex II, or CaMKII) played a large role in the encoding and
erasing of memories, by strengthening or eliminating neural connections.
Tuszynski and his colleagues noted that the geometry of the CaMKII molecule
was very similar to that of tubulin protein compounds. These tubulins are
contained within microtubule protein structures, which in turn occupy the
interiors of the brain's neurons. They are particularly concentrated in the
neurons' axons and dendrites, which are active in the memory process.
The scientists wanted to understand the interaction between CaMKII, tubulin
and microtubules, so based on 3D atomic-resolution structural data for all
three protein molecules, they developed highly-accurate computer models.
What they discovered was that the spatial dimensions and geometry of the
CaMKII and microtubule molecules allow them to fit together. Furthermore,
according to the models, the microtubules and CaMKII molecules are capable
of electrostatically attracting one another, so that a binding process can
occur between them.
This process takes place within the neurons, after they have been
synaptically connected, to (in some cases) permanently store memories.
"This could open up amazing new possibilities of dealing with memory loss
problems, interfacing our brains with hybrid devices to augment and
'refresh' our memories," said Tuszynski. "More importantly, it could lead to
new therapeutic and preventive ways of dealing with neurological diseases
such as Alzheimer's and dementia, whose incidence is growing very rapidly
these days."
A paper on the research was recently published in the journal PLoS
Computational Biology.
Source: University of Alberta
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Science is the process of eliminating supernatural explanations. - Robert
Park