Navigation Links
Forgotten but not gone -- how the brain takes care of things
Date:11/17/2008

er a special point of contact, called synapse, forms at the end of the appendage, information can be transferred from one cell to the next - and new information is learned. Once the contact breaks down, we forget what we have learned.

The subtle difference between learning and relearning

Although learning and memory were recently shown to be linked to the changes in brain structure mentioned above, many questions still remain unanswered. What happens, for example, when the brain learns something, forgets it after a while and then has to learn it again later? By way of example, we know from experience that, once we have learned to ride a bicycle, we can easily pick it up again, even if we haven't practiced for years. In other cases too, "relearning" tends to be easier than starting "from scratch". Does this subtle difference also have its origins in the structure of the nerve cells?

Cell appendages abide the saying "a bird in the hand "

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have now managed to show that there are indeed considerable differences in the number of new cell contacts made - depending on whether a piece of information is new or is being learned second time around. Nerve cells that process visual information, for instance, produced a considerably higher number of new cell contacts if the flow of information from their "own" eye was temporarily blocked. After approximately five days, the nerve cells had rearranged themselves so as to receive and process information from the other eye - the brain had resigned itself to having only one eye at its disposal. Once information flowed freely again from the eye that had been temporarily closed, the nerve cells resumed their original function and now more or less ignored signals from the alternative eye.

"What surprised us most, however, was that the majority of the appendages which developed in response to the information blockade, continu
'/>"/>

Contact: Dr. Mark Huebener
mark@neuro.mpg.de
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Yam bean a nearly forgotten crop
2. Yam bean a nearly forgotten crop
3. Yale researchers unravel mystery of brain aneurysms
4. Interaction between gene variants may alter brain function in schizophrenia
5. Social interactions can alter gene expression in the brain, and vice versa
6. Pitt research identifies new target in brain for treating schizophrenia
7. Brain recognizes verbal oh dear wave
8. Ultrasound shown to exert remote control of brain circuits
9. How we see objects in depth: The brains code for 3-D structure
10. Building the blood-brain barrier
11. Streamlining brain signals for speed and efficacy
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Forgotten but not gone -- how the brain takes care of things
Forgotten but not gone -- how the brain takes care of things
(Date:12/15/2009)... As soon as babies are born, they are ... e-coli. For up to a month, their immune systems ... are often minor, they can lead to serious problems ... University of Missouri researchers have pinpointed a group of ... immune-strengthening vaccine. , "We,re trying to improve the immune ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... agreement with the British Society for Research on Ageing ... Biogerontology for an initial period of three ... the Biogerontology editorial board and will acquire ... sponsor the society and provide society members with free ... . , Biogerontology offers a platform for ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... Laboratory, San Diego, California, has been awarded an ... based on results of a recent onsite inspection. ... of this national recognition and congratulated for the ... Inc. GenWay Clinical Laboratory is one of nearly ... Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, is ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Researchers work on vaccine to improve immune system in newborns 2Brown engineering professor wins prestigious White House award 12975 1Brown engineering professor wins prestigious White House award 12975 2Americans United for Life President to Testify at Sotomayor Senate Judiciary Hearing 51381 1Americans United for Life President to Testify at Sotomayor Senate Judiciary Hearing 51381 2Americans United for Life President to Testify at Sotomayor Senate Judiciary Hearing 51381 3Americans United for Life President to Testify at Sotomayor Senate Judiciary Hearing 51381 4Croff Enterprises Inc Agrees to Merge With Americas Minority Health Network Inc 51380 1Croff Enterprises Inc Agrees to Merge With Americas Minority Health Network Inc 51380 2
... patients with a rare but devastating genetic condition known ... study by researchers from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and ... the study (ranging in age from 1-20) are alive ... researchers. Amino acid levels in the study patients stabilized ...
... identified four distinct genetic subtypes of multiple myeloma, a ... be treated most effectively with drugs specifically targeted to ... an algorithm designed to recognize human faces plucked the ... many DNA alterations in the myeloma genome, the researchers ...
... the molecular structure of a viral protein, the parainfluenza ... is part of a family of viruses (paramyxoviruses) that ... illness and is responsible for many hospitalizations and deaths ... by the journal Nature. , Details of the protein's ...
Other Biology News:Pennsylvania researchers find liver transplants provide metabolic cure for rare genetic disease 2Scientists discover new genetic subtypes of common blood cancer 2Scientists discover new genetic subtypes of common blood cancer 3Scientists identify molecular structure of key viral protein 2Scientists identify molecular structure of key viral protein 3Scientists identify molecular structure of key viral protein 4
(Date:12/16/2009)... hold its 23rd Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition on March 22-25, ... further impact the separation society and reach out to even more ... 2010 AFS Annual Technical Conference will be co-located with the 2010 ... ... (PRWEB) December 16, 2009 -- The American Filtration and Separations Society ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... Dec. 15 Repligen Corporation (Nasdaq: ... received $731,000 in research funding to support the ... from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This ... toxicology testing and GMP manufacture of a drug ... the MDA not only provides important funding for ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... Dec. 15 Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTC ... Jeff Schorey and Dr. Wayne Comper ... Sciences, Inc. (ESI). Both Dr. Schorey and Dr. ... ESI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aethlon Medical, ... the Hemopurifier®, a medical device being advanced as ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... PLYMOUTH, Minn., Dec. 15 The Mosaic Company (NYSE: ... quarter fiscal year 2010 earnings results and financial tables ... trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Results ... ,, The Company will host a conference call ... discuss the results. The call will begin at ...
Breaking Biology Technology:American Filtration and Separations Society to Hold 23nd Annual Technical Conference 2American Filtration and Separations Society to Hold 23nd Annual Technical Conference 3American Filtration and Separations Society to Hold 23nd Annual Technical Conference 4Repligen Receives Second Research Grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association to Support Friedreich's Ataxia Preclinical Development Program 2Repligen Receives Second Research Grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association to Support Friedreich's Ataxia Preclinical Development Program 3Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 2Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 3Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 4Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 5Mosaic Announces Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2010 Earnings Release and Conference Call 2
... June 18 Alexion,Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN ) ... Alexion Pharmaceuticals, will present at the,Jefferies & Co. 2nd ... ET on Wednesday, June 25, 2008., An audio ... You can,access the webcast at: http://www.alexionpharm.com . An ...
... industry information on ... ... the world,s leading,online community for the bioscience industry, launched today ... industries in Europe. EuroBio(TM) features dynamic informational,Hotbed Web pages for ...
... Include Response Prediction to Ovarian Cancer Treatment, ... of Small Cell From Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, In Addition, the Company ... Which may Serve as the Basis for a Future ... Test for Colon ...
Other Biology Technology:BioSpace Launches EuroBio(TM) Online Community 2Rosetta Genomics Announces Three New Diagnostic Tests to Enter Development 2Rosetta Genomics Announces Three New Diagnostic Tests to Enter Development 3Rosetta Genomics Announces Three New Diagnostic Tests to Enter Development 4Rosetta Genomics Announces Three New Diagnostic Tests to Enter Development 5