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DISTANT MEMORY DISTURBED
Permanent memories are thought to be stored in the cortex, but little is known about the processes that incorporate memories into cortical networks. Now Alcino J. Silva of the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues, have discovered a molecular manipulation that affects memory specifically days and weeks after training - 'remote memory' - in mice (Nature, Vol. 411, No. 6835, 17 May 2001). Mice with half of the normal level of the enzyme alpha-calcium/calmodulin kinase II show normal memory a day after training, but 3 to 50 days later they have profound memory deficit compared with wild-type mice. This suggests that the enzyme is required for memory consolidation. CONTACT: Alcino J. Silva
tel +1 310 825 2633
e-mail silvaa@ucla.edu
(C) Nature press release.
Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza
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