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Memory Molecule Identified

Posted by kdawson on from the face-is-familiar dept.

Reader Ostracus informs us of research led by Michael Ehlers of Duke University that has identified a molecule, myosin Vb (five-b), that seems to be a critical component in the formation of memory. "A major puzzle for neurobiologists is how the brain can modify one... synapse at a time in a brain cell and not affect the thousands of other connections nearby. Plasticity, the ability of the brain to precisely rearrange the connections between its nerve cells, is the framework for learning and forming memories ... The discovery of a molecule that moves new receptors to the synapse so that the neuron... can respond more strongly helps to explain several observations about [brain] plasticity ... [The researchers] found that the myosin Vb molecule in hippocampal neurons responded to a flow of calcium ions from the synaptic space by popping up and into action. One end of the myosin is attached to meshlike actin filaments so it can 'walk' to the end of the nerve cells where receptors are. On its other end, it tows an endosome, a packet that contains new receptors. 'These endosomes are like little memories waiting to happen,' Ehlers said."

12 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sound rough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    And my take is that I'm going to start mixing energy shakes with myosin Vb (from ground up uncooked cattle brains). Photographic memory here I come! Yeehaw!

  2. The further this research goes... by symbolset · · Score: 4, Funny

    The closer we are to immortal memory. That would be both good and bad. We would forever despair of our failures. We would always remember where we left our keys.

    Since all the other parts of a Man are capable of being restored through regressing any cell into a T-cell and then culturing it into the desired part, if this gets us to where we can keep the mind functional as well, then we've found Ponce deLeon's fountain of youth.

    That would be great, because there are only 6 billion of us, and that number was not growing nearly fast enough.

    --
    Help stamp out iliturcy.
    1. Re:The further this research goes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      That would be great, because there are only 6 billion of us, and that number was not growing nearly fast enough.

      Improved memory might actually slow that down. If certain memories weren't overriden by hormones etc, then memories of three A.M. feedings, diaper changes, child support etc might dissuade us from sex without birth control methods. Then there is the possibility of your partner never forgeting your "mistakes",,,,

    2. Re:The further this research goes... by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 3, Funny

      No. By far, the most tragic happening of a human is that we die.

      20, 50, 100 years of happenings, memories.. All erased, with none ever being recoverable.

      That is a horrible thing that needs to be stopped at all costs, unless the person willfully chooses to do so. That being said, I am a Singultarian.

      --
  3. Re:Sound rough by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm taking actin and will soon kick your ass. I will crush you with my contractile system and force feed you ATP with my sliding filaments as I hurl you in toward my M line.

  4. Really...? by fractalVisionz · · Score: 1, Funny

    I thought they were just worms that you got from that bad truck-stop sandwich jazzercising your brain.

  5. Random musings about calcium by jonaskoelker · · Score: 4, Funny

    myosin Vb molecule in hippocampal neurons responded to a flow of calcium ions

    "So remember to drink your milk, boys and girls, or you will forget how to."

    1. Re:Random musings about calcium by ozbird · · Score: 2, Funny

      myosin Vb molecule in hippocampal neurons responded to a flow of calcium ions

      "So remember to drink your milk, boys and girls, or you will forget how to."

      Forget milk; drink Vb and alter your synapses directly.

  6. Deja Vu by CarpetShark · · Score: 4, Funny

    It might be the beginning of a breakthrough, but that remains to be seen. My take is: wait and see.

    That's what everyone said last time we discovered this, back in 1925, 1903, and 1871. Somehow, after discovering these molecules, everyone forgets to follow up.

  7. Re:Problems with the headline by alexj33 · · Score: 2, Funny

    So this means the new Samsung brain-dump backup drives will be on the market by the end of the year.

  8. The human brain is full of VB? by Ant+P. · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least now we know why it's so unstable

  9. Re:Problems with the headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So the brain is not a series of tubes?