Immersion Blog

This, apparently, is the first image of memories “being made”. The bulbs in the synaptic strings are new proteins created when new memories are formed;

Research (into what happens on a molecular level when memories are formed) has focused on synapses, which are the main site of exchange and storage in the brain. They form a vast but also constantly fluctuating network of connections whose ability to change and adapt, called synaptic plasticity, may be the fundamental basis of learning and memory.

But, if this network is constantly changing, the question is how do memories stay put, how are they formed? It has been known for some time that an important step in long-term memory formation is “translation”, or the production, of new proteins locally at the synapse, strengthening the synaptic connection in the reinforcement of a memory, which until now has never been imaged.

Seems like a pretty good excuse to quote Nietzsche; “”I,” you say, and are proud of the word. But greater is that in which you do not wish to have faith- your body and its great reason: that does not say “I,” but does “I.”"

This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 11:01 pm and is filed under Psychology & Neuroscience, Research studies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.