Novel tools for deciphering mechanisms associated with learning and memory developed by Indian Scientists

What is the news?

Indian Scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind tool for understanding the process of long-term memory consolidation in the brain by capturing the neural signals from the rodent brain.

What is the study conducted by scientists?

Learning and memory are the fundamental processes of the brain. Learning is attributed to the acquisition of new data and memory. Retention of the acquired data leads to long-term memory (LTM) formation.

This study is being conducted to understand long-term memory (LTM) formation.

How is the study being conducted?

This study is being conducted under the “Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE)” program.

It uses the behavioural tagging model to understand the LTM consolidation through behavioural analysis. It has also used the In Vivo Electrophysiology technique to explore the latent features of memory consolidation

The findings of this study could help in finding a direct link between the memory consolidation pathway and memory impairment mechanism in a diseased state.

What is the PURSE Program?

PURSE is one of the flagship Infrastructure programs of the Department of Science and Technology, which commenced in the year 2009 exclusively for the University sector. 

The main objective of the scheme is to strengthen the research capacity of performing Indian Universities and provide support for nurturing the research ecosystem and strengthening the R&D base of the Universities in the country.

Source: This post is based on the article “Novel tools for deciphering mechanisms associated with learning and memory developed by Indian Scientists” published in PIB on 16th Feb 2022.