Post by Cbean on May 19, 2005 8:40:42 GMT -5
Episode 8 Memories are made of this
Time for a change of direction and discuss another very important program the dedicated scientists at Stanford have underway. This is research into the memory defects in the DS brain. Of course our little friends the DS mice are an integral part of this effort also. It is important to realize that all learning depends on memory and a lack in memory may explain the difficulty DS individuals have in learning. Let me take you into the laboratory and you can see for yourself.
Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)
Mice can be trained to solve simple tasks. For example, if a mouse is placed in a pool of milky water, it will swim about until it finds a hidden platform to climb out on. With repetition, the mouse soon learns to locate the platform more quickly. Presumably it does so with the aid of visual cues placed around the perimeter of the pool because it cannot see or smell the platform itself. DS mice cannot learn this task no matter how many times they try. This suggests that neurons in their hippocampus are not suitable for this type of learning.
What is going on?
When the mouse finds the platform he gets a little blip in his brain. Then the second time he finds it he gets a much bigger blip, and continues to get a big blip every time he finds it after that. This process is called Long Term Potentiation, (LTP). With a DS mouse he would get a little blip the first time, the second time, the third time, etc. Always the same result! No LTP! We know LTP is a major factor in forming memories, in mice and in humans, and without it learning is highly restricted. Think back to your school days when you were trying to “memorize” something for a test; what you were doing is activating LPG in your brain with repetitive stimulus. It’s called ‘recall’.
The scientists at Stanford have taken on the challenge of resolving this mystery, and you will be surprised to hear of their progress in the next episode of The GOOD NEWS about DS
PS it’s alright to get excited about this one!!!
Time for a change of direction and discuss another very important program the dedicated scientists at Stanford have underway. This is research into the memory defects in the DS brain. Of course our little friends the DS mice are an integral part of this effort also. It is important to realize that all learning depends on memory and a lack in memory may explain the difficulty DS individuals have in learning. Let me take you into the laboratory and you can see for yourself.
Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)
Mice can be trained to solve simple tasks. For example, if a mouse is placed in a pool of milky water, it will swim about until it finds a hidden platform to climb out on. With repetition, the mouse soon learns to locate the platform more quickly. Presumably it does so with the aid of visual cues placed around the perimeter of the pool because it cannot see or smell the platform itself. DS mice cannot learn this task no matter how many times they try. This suggests that neurons in their hippocampus are not suitable for this type of learning.
What is going on?
When the mouse finds the platform he gets a little blip in his brain. Then the second time he finds it he gets a much bigger blip, and continues to get a big blip every time he finds it after that. This process is called Long Term Potentiation, (LTP). With a DS mouse he would get a little blip the first time, the second time, the third time, etc. Always the same result! No LTP! We know LTP is a major factor in forming memories, in mice and in humans, and without it learning is highly restricted. Think back to your school days when you were trying to “memorize” something for a test; what you were doing is activating LPG in your brain with repetitive stimulus. It’s called ‘recall’.
The scientists at Stanford have taken on the challenge of resolving this mystery, and you will be surprised to hear of their progress in the next episode of The GOOD NEWS about DS
PS it’s alright to get excited about this one!!!