It is generally believed that the brain stores memories, but research has revealed that other parts of the body also work to store memories. This research published in the journal Nature Communications has opened a new path for the treatment of brain disorders. Lead author Nikolay V. Kukushkin of New York University in the US said that other cells in the body can also learn and form memories.
The researchers found that just like brain cells, cells in other organs also activated memory genes in response to new information. When brain cells detect patterns in information, memory genes are activated and reorganize their connections to form a memory. Additionally, to monitor memory and learning processes in cells other than the brain, the team tried to find out through proteins whether memory-forming genes are working or not.
What did the experiment reveal?
The experiment showed that cells other than those in the brain can recognize when chemical signals (similar to signals from neurotransmitters in the brain) are being repeated. The team found that this process is similar to the way neurons fire when learning new things. It also showed that cells work better when they take breaks, just as neurons in our brain learn more effectively when we take breaks.
What do the experts say?
The team said that when the pulses were delivered at different intervals, they activated memory genes more reliably and for longer periods of time than when the same intervention did not occur simultaneously. The team said that when the pulses were given at intervals, they retained the “memory genes” more strongly and for longer periods. Kukushkin said the research shows that the ability to learn through spaced repetition is not limited to brain cells, but is being done by all cells. In addition to offering new ways to research memory, the research also suggests treating our bodies like our brains for better health.
