How Do We Retain Memories? Scientists Discover 'Blocking' Process When Waking

Scientists may have figured out yet another interesting tidbit about our memories. If memory consolidation happens while we're asleep, what happens if we suddenly wake up?

It can be remembered that during consolidation, the brain produces proteins that strengthen fragile memory traces. However, if a new experience occurs while these memories are consolidated, the new stimuli may interrupt the process.

Or so they think. It appears the brain may have a way to prevent memory consolidation from being blocked in the first place. It's known that the brain partially solves this conflict by postponing some of the memory consolidation to a period in which new experiences will be minimized - or when we're asleep. 

According to Science Daily, a study by Abrahan Susswein of the Bar-Ilan University and his colleagues may have the answer. The key may also lie within the mind of sea hare Aplysia. Per EurekAlert, the marine slugs are convenient for neuroscientific investigation because of their simple nervous systems and large neurons and are found to be capable of basic forms of learning.

Interestingly, it was found out that after training during waking hours, proteins are synthesized to initiate the consolidation of new memory. The researchers found out that blocking the production of consolidation proteins in sleeping sea slugs prevents these creatures from forming long-term memories. Meaning, they do consolidate memories during sleep, just like humans. 

According to eLife Sciences where the study was published, they also figured out that exposing sea slugs to a new stimulus immediately after waking up does not trigger the formation of new memories. Meaning, proteins blocking the formation of new memories prevent an experience upon waking from being effective in producing memory.

If they remove this block by inhibiting protein production, memories can be encoded in memory even after waking up. 

The next step for this study is to find out just which proteins are memory-blocking proteins and just how they prevent the formation of new memories. These can be used to block unwanted memories such as in cases of PTSD.