Putting mice into hibernation causes a major loss of synapses
Summary
Scientists induced a hibernation-like state in mice by activating specific brain cells, causing the mice to lose over half of their brain connections called synapses. Despite this major loss, the mice were able to remember tasks they had learned before hibernation.Key Facts
- Memories are believed to be stored by strengthening connections between brain cells (neurons).
- Researchers used a method to activate "Q neurons" in the hypothalamus to create a controlled hibernation-like state in mice.
- During this state, the mice’s body temperature dropped to about 20° Celsius and their heart and breathing rates slowed.
- Brain activity dropped by about 70 percent during this induced hibernation.
- Using advanced imaging, scientists found more than half of the synapses were lost during hibernation.
- Normally, losing this many synapses should erase memories.
- Mice showed no memory problems after waking, successfully completing tasks they had learned before hibernation.
- This finding challenges the idea that memories only persist as strong synapse connections.
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