Scientists have erased the memory of the Drosophila fly

Scientists from the University of Tokyo have discovered that fruit flies lose part of their long-term memory of

traumatic event during prolonged stay indarkness. This is the first evidence that light plays an important role in maintaining memory in insects. The team was also able to identify the specific molecular mechanism responsible for this effect. Long-term memories are difficult to erase in other conditions, but the work could lead to new treatments, the scientists said.

Researchers explained that it’s especially shockingan event can be consolidated in long-term memory, as a result of which new proteins are synthesized and neural chains in the brain change. Such memories can be devastating, causing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, from a physiological point of view, preservation of memory is an active process that requires constant cell restructuring and renewal of the body.

Japanese scientists conducted an experiment - ifIf a male Drosophila fly does not mate for a long time, this is fixed in long-term memory. Over time, such an individual stops courting females. The team found that if such a fly is kept in the dark for two days, it forgets about the injury and behaves as usual.

VR interfered with effective visual memory formation during learning

So the researchers were able to find out that the lightThe environment has somehow changed the preservation of long-term memory. To confirm their findings, biologists focused on protein (PDF). It is located in the brain of a fly and responds to light. There, they discovered that PDF is linked to a protein that is responsible for memory and learning.

Traumatic experiences are very difficult to forget, theycan seriously impair quality of life. But the team’s discoveries showed that these memories, in fact, can be significantly affected by environmental factors in living organisms. This may open up new possibilities for treating the victim’s injuries and even the ability to erase traumatic memories.