AZspot AZspot

blue bits. red rocks.
Wednesday 20 June 2012
MIT discovers the location of memories: Individual neurons

MIT researchers have shown, for the first time ever, that memories are stored in specific brain cells. By triggering a small cluster of neurons, the researchers were able to force the subject to recall a specific memory. By removing these neurons, the subject would lose that memory.

As you can imagine, the trick here is activating individual neurons, which are incredibly small and not really the kind of thing you can attach electrodes to. To do this, the researchers used optogenetics, a bleeding edge sphere of science that involves the genetic manipulation of cells so that they’re sensitive to light. These modified cells are then triggered using lasers; you drill a hole through the subject’s skull and point the laser at a small cluster of neurons.

(via unsettledchristianity.com)

296 notes

  1. grimmalkiin reblogged this from queensimia
  2. ramblingsomirza reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias
  3. pancakesystem reblogged this from reagan-was-a-horrible-president
  4. frakir reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias and added:
    Whoa.
  5. skinofthe4thkind reblogged this from sexplosionsinthesky
  6. mary-golds reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias
  7. expressilence reblogged this from mmarieritter and added:
    can we use this technology to help Altzheimer’s patients from LOSING their memories?
  8. mmarieritter reblogged this from seashelllz
  9. ofstars reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias
  10. roarleonroar reblogged this from unevenlygrown and added:
    if selective memory erasure actually becomes a thing i’m gonna have everything erased EXCEPT how to survive in the...
  11. unevenlygrown reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias and added:
    ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND.
  12. janeaustenfightclub reblogged this from winterofcontent
  13. ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan reblogged this from loungejulius
  14. holycrapablaxican reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias
  15. goodjob-zombiearm reblogged this from omnivorousstegosaurus
  16. omnivorousstegosaurus reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias
  17. captcouch reblogged this from masalaskywalker and added:
    And this is why I’m glad I’m going into this field.
  18. mydaywithd reblogged this from reagan-was-a-horrible-president
  19. masalaskywalker reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias
  20. auguris reblogged this from truth-has-a-liberal-bias
  21. truth-has-a-liberal-bias reblogged this from azspot
  22. warmasthebullets reblogged this from mofobian
  23. myalligatortears reblogged this from reagan-was-a-horrible-president
  24. whoisjincheng reblogged this from alexjongau
  25. alexjongau reblogged this from nemuriuta-flanc and added:
    k001!!
  26. luffles424 reblogged this from queensimia
  27. magnificent--desolation reblogged this from poetfire
  28. beyondconfinement reblogged this from poetfire
  29. poetfire reblogged this from seashelllz

A GNT creation ©2007–2013