- #1
SW VandeCarr
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It's been known for some time that synapses are strengthened during the brain's processing of new information. This includes passive activities such as listening to music. However, the linked article discusses new research that indicates the RNA linked protein synthesis that occurs with synapse strengthening is repressed by other proteins. So the learning process is actually initiated by derepression. The repressive proteins must be degraded for the active proteins to be synthesized. What might happen if we were able to block the synthesis of repressive proteins so that synapse strengthening could occur all the time or perhaps selectively as when, for instance. we need study for an exam?
http://www.physorg.com/news180780161.html
EDIT: In case you're wondering about "RNA linked protein synthesis" (since tRNA and mRNA is involved in all protein synthesis), I believe the article is referring to non-coding RNA which plays a role in memory formation.
http://physrev.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/87/3/799.
http://www.physorg.com/news180780161.html
EDIT: In case you're wondering about "RNA linked protein synthesis" (since tRNA and mRNA is involved in all protein synthesis), I believe the article is referring to non-coding RNA which plays a role in memory formation.
http://physrev.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/87/3/799.
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