Research from a group of scientists from the Department of Physiology at the Yong Loo Lin National School of Medicine of the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) discovered that a small Brain region plays a vital role in the formation of social memory and interaction.
The hippocampus, a region of the horseshoe-shaped brain well known for its role in memory formation, also acts as a natural "GPS" that helps humans explore new areas, objects and people. The team led by Dr. Sajikumar Sreedharan and his graduate student, Miss Ananya Dasgupta, identified the specific role of a tiny area in the hippocampus: the "CA2 area", which connects memories to short term and memorize them in the long term.
"Although the CA2 area is not included in the conventional memory circuit because of its apparent lack of ability to form and maintain a lasting memory, its unique role in the formation of social memory has captured our attention For example, in the case of rats, an intact CA2 area helps them spend more time with newcomers, and it's a property that marks their social connection or interaction, "said Dr. Sreedharan.
In their study, the team identified the potential role of a neuropeptide called Substance P (SP) as a mediator of social memory in the CA2 area. SP is already known to be released during mildly stressful situations.
The researchers tested the effect of MS on rat hippocampal slices, mimicking mildly stressful or painful situations. They observed a long-lasting memory growing slowly only in the CA2 region, when neuronal responses were recorded simultaneously from CA2 and some other areas of the hippocampus.
The association of strong memories can also make a weak memory stronger over time. For example, while people may not remember the name of the wine that they had last month, they would have memories of the wine that they drank on their wedding day. Thus, it is the association of a weak memory (drinking wine) with a strong memory (its marriage) that converts a short-term memory into a long-term memory.
The ability to associate things and people, which is the essence of social memory, depends on a complex cellular process. The team showed for the first time that SP can also help to associate weak memory with stronger memory in the CA2 area during a given period. It is the first demonstration of these processes in this region of the brain, responsible for social memory and interaction.
"This is a major study that strengthens the link between CA2 hippocampal region and memory and will open new perspectives to investigate how this area is related to the memory deficit that frequently occurs in brain disorders like depression and schizophrenia. "said Professor Soong Tuck Wah, one of the members of the study team and head of the Department of Physiology at NUS Medicine.
Source:
http://nusmedicine.nus.edu.sg/
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