Certainly, here is a paraphrased version of the provided text:
Researchers in the field of neuroscience propose that the act of “forgetting” could be a learning mechanism that enhances adaptable behavior in ever-changing environments. Their experiments reveal that memories aren’t completely erased but are conserved in engrams that may be reactivated. These insights could have ramifications for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, illustrating that memories can be revived through both natural and artificial means.
Initial results of experiments aimed at understanding the idea that “forgetting” may not be detrimental, and instead may be a learning process, have been disclosed by neuroscientists. The findings bolster their principal hypothesis.
Previously, the researchers theorized that alterations in our ability to recall specific memories originate from environmental responses and predictability. They contended that forgetting might not be a deficiency but a deliberate brain feature, allowing it to responsively engage with continuously evolving environments.
According to their rationale, in our ever-changing world, forgetting certain memories could be advantageous, leading to increased adaptability in behavior and improved decision-making. If memories were formed in contexts unrelated to current circumstances, forgetting them could positively impact our overall well-being.
Their first paper among a series of new experimental studies was published in the renowned international journal Cell Reports. It examined the effect of ordinary, “everyday” forgetting on specific memories within the brain.
The scientists explored retroactive interference, a type of forgetting where closely timed different experiences lead to the forgetting of recent memories. In the experiment, mice were trained to associate objects with particular contexts, but these associations were forgotten when other experiences interfered with the original memory.
The notion that forgetting may be a functional characteristic of the brain, empowering it to engage dynamically with varying surroundings, is being advanced.
In order to analyze the impact of this type of forgetting on memory, the neuroscientists genetically marked a contextual “engram” (a collection of neurons that hold a specific memory) within the mice’s brains. They then tracked these cells’ activation and operation after forgetting had occurred. Importantly, through optogenetics, they discovered that light stimulation of engram cells restored seemingly lost memories in multiple behavioral scenarios. Also, ‘lost’ engrams could be naturally refreshed when new, related experiences were introduced.
The lead author of the newly published article, Dr. Tomás Ryan, Associate Professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, explains that memories reside in neuron ensembles known as ‘engram cells,’ and forgetting happens when these ensembles are not activated. He likens it to having memories locked in a safe, but the code to access them is forgotten.
Dr. Livia Autore, who led the work in the Ryan Lab at Trinity, emphasized that the competition between engrams affects recall, and the forgotten memory can be reactivated by both natural and artificial cues. She explains that some memories will persist undisturbed, while others will be influenced by new information, but they can still be reactivated.
Since it’s now understood that “natural forgetting” can be reversed under certain conditions, this research holds considerable implications, especially for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, where common forgetting processes might be erroneously triggered by brain illness.
The study received funding from various organizations, including the European Research Council, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the Irish Research Council, and Science Foundation Ireland. The reference for the study is “Adaptive expression of engrams by retroactive interference” by Livia Autore et al., published on 16 August 2023, in Cell Reports, with the DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112999.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about forgetting
What is the main proposition of the neuroscientists regarding forgetting?
Neuroscientists propose that forgetting might be a form of learning that enhances adaptable behavior in ever-changing environments. Rather than being lost, memories are stored in engrams that can be reactivated.
How does this concept of forgetting have implications for Alzheimer’s disease?
The understanding that memories are not truly lost but can be retrieved through natural and artificial cues has significant implications for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, where everyday forgetting processes may be mistakenly activated by brain illness.
What is retroactive interference, and how was it studied?
Retroactive interference is a form of forgetting where different experiences occurring closely in time can cause the forgetting of recently formed memories. In the study, mice were used to associate specific objects with contexts, but these associations were forgotten when other experiences interfered.
What is an engram, and how does it relate to memory?
An engram is a group of brain cells that store a specific memory. In the study, neuroscientists genetically labeled contextual engrams in mice’s brains and found that stimulation of these engram cells with light retrieved the seemingly lost memories in multiple situations.
How can the findings of this study be applied to human well-being?
The study suggests that forgetting certain memories could lead to more flexible behavior and better decision-making, improving overall well-being. Also, the research may aid in the understanding and treatment of memory-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
More about forgetting
- Cell Reports
- Trinity College Dublin – School of Biochemistry and Immunology
- European Research Council
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
- Irish Research Council
- Science Foundation Ireland
