Also in the hypothalamus are created and preserved remnants of memories

2019/05/29 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Anatomia/Fisiologia

An oxytocin based research has allowed Mazahir T to demonstrate that the hypothalamus plays a fundamental role in memory mechanisms. Directed by researcher Hasan (Ikerbasque, Centro Achucarro). The work has been published in the prestigious magazine Neuron.

According to the most accepted hypothesis so far, the creation and storage of memory was located in evolutionary brain structures more recent than the hypothalamus, specifically in the cortex and hippocampus. Therefore, they have considered it a revolutionary research and have affirmed that the mechanism of memory opens up new avenues of understanding.

They use optogenetics to investigate fear-related memory in rats. They have focused on oxytocin producing neurons, a hormone directly related to fear and other emotions. By activating and deactivating neurons through optogenetics, they have managed to demonstrate that the hypothalamus also preserves the remains of memory.