Researchers at the Institute of Neurosciences have discovered how the hippocampus manages to incorporate new information into existing memories without causing confusion.
Key facts
- •The study was conducted by the Institute of Neurosciences, a partnership between the Spanish National Research Council and Miguel Hernández University.
- •Researchers identified that the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus uses inhibitory neurons to manage memory updates.
- •Experiments on mice showed that modifying inhibitory levels can improve memory retrieval and detail.
- •The effectiveness of inhibitory activity changes based on the volume of information, or memory load, being processed.
- •The brain dynamically adjusts its memory processing mode based on the contextual importance of the information.
A study from the Institute of Neurosciences, a research center operated by the Spanish National Research Council and Miguel Hernández University, has identified a neurological mechanism used to update memories. Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the research suggests that a specific region of the hippocampus, the dentate gyrus, uses inhibitory neurons to regulate how new experiences are integrated with previous ones.
The role of inhibitory neurons
The research team, based at the Neural Network Plasticity laboratory, found that the dentate gyrus uses a specific type of neuron to inhibit the activity of other cells. This process helps the brain distinguish between different stages of an experience, such as the progression of a construction project, preventing the memories from becoming mixed.
Experimental findings and memory load
Experiments conducted on mice showed that altering the levels of this inhibitory process affected memory retrieval. Co-lead researcher Encarni Marcos noted that lower-than-usual levels of inhibition resulted in more detailed recollections. However, the team's computational model indicated that the benefits of reduced inhibition depend on the amount of information being processed; when memory load is high, lower inhibition is no longer advantageous.
Dynamic adjustment based on context
The study concludes that the dentate gyrus dynamically adjusts its operation based on task demands. Depending on the context, the brain may either favor the incorporation of new inputs or prioritize keeping existing memories firmly in place when faced with new stimuli.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Euronews Health.
