Researchers have discovered how the brain's dentate gyrus uses inhibitory neurons to integrate new information into existing memories without causing confusion.
Key facts
- •The study was conducted by the Neural Network Plasticity Laboratory at the Institute of Neurosciences.
- •Researchers tested the mechanism by altering inhibitory processes in mice.
- •The dentate gyrus acts as a regulator for both new memory formation and the stabilization of existing ones.
- •The study's findings were published in the journal PLOS Biology.
- •Encarni Marcos served as a co-lead author and head of the research line.
Researchers at the Institute of Neurosciences, a joint center of the CSIC and Miguel Hernández University, have identified a neurological process that helps the brain distinguish between different stages of a memory. Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study suggests that a specific region of the hippocampus, the dentate gyrus, manages this by using inhibitory neurons to regulate how new experiences are integrated.
The role of inhibitory neurons
The research team focused on the dentate gyrus, a hippocampal region responsible for forming new memories. By altering the inhibitory process in mice, scientists observed that reducing the activity of certain neurons led to improved memory retrieval and more detailed recollection.
Dynamic adjustment based on memory load
The study found that there is no single optimal level of inhibition for memory retention. Computational models indicated that while reduced inhibitory activity benefits memory when the information load is low, this effect changes as the amount of information increases. The brain appears to dynamically adjust its inhibitory activity to either incorporate new inputs or stabilize existing memories based on the specific demands of the task.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Euronews Health.
