21 June : Scientists have captured for the first time the image of memory formation.An international team has in fact got the image of a mechanism, specifically protein translation, which underlies long-term memory formation, a finding which shows when a new memory is formed new proteins are made locally at the synapse the connection between nerve cells.
According to the scientists, this increases the strength of the synaptic connection and reinforces the memory.
"An important step in long-term memory formation is ‘translation’, or the production, of new proteins locally at the synapse strengthening synaptic connection in reinforcement of a memory, which until now has never been imaged, using a translational reporter, a fluorescent protein that can be easily detected and tracked we directly visualised the increased local translation, or protein synthesis, during memory formation,” lead scientist Dr Wayne Sossin of Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital said.
He further added, "Highly regulated local translation occurs at synapses during long-term plasticity and requires trans- synaptic signals," lead scientist Dr Wayne Sossin of Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital said.
According to the scientists, long-term memory and the synaptic plasticity require changes in gene expression and can occur in a synapse-specific manner.This study provides evidence that a mechanism which mediates this gene expression during neuronal plasticity involves regulated translation of localised mRNA at stimulated synapses.
These findings are instrumental in establishing the molecular processes involved in long-term memory formation and provide insight into diseases involving memory impairment, the ‘Science’ journal reported.