What is Artificial Intelligence?

synaptic communication captured on a laser camera

Scientists from the Medical College of Georgia, lead by Dr. Tsien, were able to decode the communication among neurons during formation and recall of memory. Using state-of-the art neurotechnologies and the century-old Pavlovian condition, they were able to recognize in real time the formation and recollection of a memory in a mouse's brain.

In the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain, MCG scientists connected 128 electrodes in order to detect communication among 200 to 300 neurons during the time when the [subject] mice learned to associate a certain tone with a mild foot shock 20 seconds later.

An algorithm computed the neuronal chats and translated them into discernible and dynamic patterns that provided scientists a clearer picture of what the memory appeared during formation and recall.

MCG scientists used a mouse as the subject. The subject underwent two memory recall tests. One, by hearing a tone, the mouse freezes and second, returning to the chamber where the foot shock occurred. They later correlated these actions to memory retrieval.

The results were very significant to finding specific solution to memory problems, because as Dr. Tsien said, "the ability to watch memories being made in real time should help pinpoint where problems lie, enabling more targeted research and eventual treatment".

Click here to read more about Decoding Neuronal Communication, Memory Formation and Recall and Pavlovian Conditioning.