Did you ever think going to Disney land could help you remember better? A study from LI-Huei Tsai showed that this was actually the case in lab mice (Huei 2011). The study was shown on Nova as Dr. Huei tested lab mice’s ability to find a hidden platform in a tub of water. The scientists would “teach” the mice where the platform was until they were able to find the platform from memory and would not have to search for it. After this point, the mice were injected with a memory inhibiting protein that made it so that the mice could not find the platform when put back into the tank of water. When the mice successfully forgot where the platform was the scientist put the mice in a social environment where they were able to play, run on the wheel, and do other Mickey Mouse games. After this little “play date”, the mice where tested again and they were able to successfully remember where the platform was even without retraining (Huei 2011).
Why is it that memories can be lost and re-found? Fischer et al has found that genetic makeup of our DNA has a big part to play with how well we remember (Fischer et al. 2007). This study used “environmental enrichment” to increase the memory in their mice subjects. What the researchers have found was that environmental enrichment modified the chromatin through Histone- tail acetylation. Also, the act of Histone-tail acetylation led to new Dendrites to form, increasing synaptic passageways (Fischer et al. 2007). Why is this? The environmental enrichment lead to DNA to loosen up around the Histone proteins so that genes responsible for memory and brain function can be translated. The Nova program related this back to Older Adults in nursing homes that showed improved mental status when stimulated through activities, music, dance, etc (Hendrie 2008).
So the next time mommy and daddy ask about going to Disney Land tell them that the dendritic benefits of riding on magic mountain or riding on It’s a Small World After All and how this will help you remember that much better.
Hendrie et al (2008). Of Mice and Memory. Nova Science now, <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/mice-memory.html>
Huei LH (2011). Mechanisms Underlying Memory Disorders. HHMI, <http://www.hhmi.org/research/investigators/tsai.html>
It is interesting that genetic makeup of our DNA is crucial to memorization. This topic reminds me of a documentary I watched on Discover a couple years ago about Elephants who have memory that has been passed down through generation.
ReplyDeleteElephants migrate to a specific location that they have never been before, but they have a sense of where they need to go through memory DNA.