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Sci. Signal., 8 March 2011
Vol. 4, Issue 163, p. ec73
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.4163ec73]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Neuroscience Improving Old Memories

Peter R. Stern

Science, AAAS, Cambridge CB2 1LQ, UK

Can memory be improved? In vivo experiments using pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme protein kinase M{zeta} (PKM{zeta}) in the insular cortex have shown that long-term conditioned taste aversion memory can be blocked. Now, Shema et al. show that overexpression of PKM{zeta} in the rat insular cortex enhances memory, including memory that was formed long before the enzyme was overexpressed. The enhancement appears to affect more than a single memory. Thus, modulation of PKM{zeta} can alter memories, even months after the initial encoding.

R. Shema, S. Haramati, S. Ron, S. Hazvi, A. Chen, T. C. Sacktor, Y. Dudai, Enhancement of consolidated long-term memory by overexpression of protein kinase M{zeta} in the neocortex. Science 331, 1207–1210 (2011). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: P. R. Stern, Improving Old Memories. Sci. Signal. 4, ec73 (2011).

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