Why Do We Forget?

Disorders Cure

oi-Staff

By Staff

Thursday, December 4, 2008, 12:36

We remember what is important to us and conveniently forget the less important facts. This is mainly attributed to the flexibility of the nerve cell's communication units, called synapses. A synapse is a point at which electrical signals move from one nerve cell to another.

Scientists have long thought that only the receiving side of a synapse plays an active role in the reorganization of the brain, which is thought to underlie our ability to learn but also to forget. But the scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried, have found that the transmitting terminal of a nerve cell's synapse is also highly adaptable.

The researchers have revealed that the neurotransmitter-releasing part of a synapse dramatically remodels itself in response to electrical stimulation, and thus may make a decisive contribution to the adaptability of the brain to ever-changing environments.

Not only the receiving, but also the transmitting terminal of a nerve cell's synapse is higly adaptable. The researchers say that it is only when the transmission terminals and the receiver stations are in the right proportion to each other can communication actually take place in the brain.

The team claim that they are the first research group to successfully observe both the receiver side and the transmitter terminal of a synapse over an extended period of time.

So a lot of credit goes to the synapse that spares us the horror of ugly and unwanted thoughts piling onto our memory.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.