concept of a human brain full of memories (© Studio_East - stock.adobe.com)
NEW YORK — In a remarkable finding that challenges what scientists have long believed, a new study finds that the ability to learn and form memories is not exclusive to the brain, but is in fact a fundamental property shared by cells throughout the human body.
The study, led by Nikolay V. Kukushkin of New York University and published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, reveals that non-brain cells, including those from nerve and kidney tissues, can detect patterns in their environment and respond by activating a “memory gene” – the same gene that brain cells use to restructure their connections and form memories.
“Learning and memory are generally associated with brains and brain cells alone, but our study shows that other cells in the body can learn and form memories, too,” explains Kukushkin, a clinical associate professor at NYU, in a media release.
To uncover this unexpected discovery, the researchers exposed two types of non-brain human cells to different patterns of chemical signals, mimicking the way brain cells respond to neurotransmitters during the learning process. By engineering the cells to produce a glowing protein when the memory gene was activated, the team was able to monitor the cells’ learning and memory capabilities.
The striking results reveal that the non-brain cells were able to distinguish between continuous and spaced-out patterns of the chemical signals, just as neurons in the brain can recognize the difference between cramming information and learning through repeated exposure over time.
“This reflects the massed-space effect in action,” says Kukushkin, referring to the well-established neurological principle that we retain information better when it is studied in spaced intervals rather than all at once.
Specifically, the researchers found that when the chemical pulses were delivered in spaced-out intervals, the non-brain cells turned on the memory gene more strongly and for a longer duration than when the same treatment was delivered continuously.
“It shows that the ability to learn from spaced repetition isn’t unique to brain cells, but, in fact, might be a fundamental property of all cells,” Kukushkin observes.
This discovery not only challenges our understanding of memory, but also opens up new avenues for enhancing learning and treating memory-related disorders. Kukushkin suggests that in the future, we may need to consider what other cells in the body “remember” in order to maintain healthy function.
“This discovery opens new doors for understanding how memory works and could lead to better ways to enhance learning and treat memory problems,” the study author concludes. “At the same time, it suggests that in the future, we will need to treat our body more like the brain – for example, consider what our pancreas remembers about the pattern of our past meals to maintain healthy levels of blood glucose or consider what a cancer cell remembers about the pattern of chemotherapy.”
As the scientific community grapples with the implications of this groundbreaking work, one thing is clear: our understanding of the human body’s remarkable capabilities is about to undergo a profound transformation.
Paper Summary
Methodology
In this study, researchers explored whether non-neural human cells could exhibit a “spaced learning effect,” a phenomenon well-known in animals where spreading learning events over time leads to stronger memory than cramming all at once. They used two types of non-neural cell lines, specifically modified to light up in response to learning signals, simulating “memory.” To activate these cells, they applied specific chemicals that mimic signals known to trigger memory processes. By adjusting the timing and repetition of these signals, they tested if the cells could “remember” better with spaced intervals.
Key Results
The study showed that cells treated with multiple spaced pulses of learning signals had a stronger response than those treated with one big pulse. This difference was similar to how spaced study sessions work better than cramming for long-term retention in human learning. Cells with spaced treatments displayed higher and more lasting activity in key memory proteins, suggesting that even non-neural cells could mimic memory-like behavior.
Study Limitations
While intriguing, this study used non-neural cell lines in controlled lab settings. This setup may not fully capture the complexities of real neural processes. Also, the specific chemicals used to stimulate the cells are simpler than the range of signals in living organisms. Finally, whether these findings apply to complex memory in humans or animals remains uncertain.
Discussion & Takeaways
The study broadens our understanding of memory by suggesting that memory-like processes could occur in non-neural cells. This could inspire new ways to study memory without using neural cells, potentially leading to more efficient models for research. It also hints at the possibility of manipulating similar cellular processes for future treatments related to memory or cognitive disorders.
Funding & Disclosures
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grant no. 1R01MH120300-01A1). The authors disclosed no conflicts of interest.
