"Memories" in a single cell

2009/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

A chemical receptor related to short-term memory has been found in the brain cells of mice. The discovery was made at South West Texas University. According to scientists, activating this receptor turns on a signaling system inside the cell and stores "memories".

Until now, theories pointed out that cellular assemblies form circuits around which electrical pulses are generated at specific times. These circuits would keep memories. However, the new theory indicates that only one cell can store information in the brain.