Everything learned will be forgotten; Memories are not only stored in the brain, new discovery

 

 

New York: Scientists at New York University (NYU) say that memories are stored not only in the brain. Studies show that neurons are connected to organs outside the brain, especially the kidneys and nerve cells. These findings may help scientists find new treatments for memory-related conditions.

The study on memory is reported in the journal Nature Communications. The New York University research team also examined the response of non-brain cells to chemical signal patterns in a laboratory setting.

By mimicking the neurological 'massed-spaced effect', the aim was to test whether the spacing of signal patterns could influence the ability of these cells to 'remember', similar to spaced learning intervals in humans. Studies also reveal that connecting kidney and nerve cells to these intervals activates a 'memory gene'. This process was previously thought to occur only in neurons.