The study is published in the “Science Journal”.
The technology blocked nerve activity – known as long-term potentiation, or LTP – that would otherwise strengthen memory during sleep.
LTP confirmed synapses through neural function and is critical for memory formation. When and where memories form in the brain can be determined by examining when and which cells undergo LTP.
Medications can interfere with LTP, but they have a general effect and are not good for targeting specific areas of the brain at certain times in memory enhancement.
In search of inspiration, Goto turned to Hollywood.
“In Men in Black, agents wiped memories away with light. We did something similar,” he said with a smile.
His team used light to deactivate the proteins necessary for LTP.
Changing black suit and shades to white lab coats and goggles, another author Yasunori HayashiThe team would illuminate the mouse brain to block caffeine, a protein essential for synapse function.
Initially, the brain is injected with an adeno-associated virus, or AAV, which is commonly used to carry a gene that then expresses a fusion protein made from cofilin and fluorescent SuperNova. When exposed to light, these proteins release reactive oxygen, which deactivates nearby compounds such as caffeine.
The presence of LTP on the hippocampus, where memories are first stored, is significant. When this area of the brain is irradiated, once immediately after the mouse has learned the task, and then again while sleeping after learning, the memory disappears.
“It was surprising that removing the local LTP with targeted lighting clearly cleared the memory,” Goto commented.
Hayashi believes that this new technology provided a method to isolate memory formation both temporally and spatially in the brain at the cellular level.
Synaptic abnormalities associated with LTP are associated with memory and learning disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and also psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
Hayashi concluded, “We expect our method to lead to a variety of treatments for mental disorders.”
Source: ANI