Introductions at a party seemingly go in one ear and out the
other. However, if you meet someone two or three times during the party, you
are more likely to remember his or her name. Your brain has taken a short-term
memory - the introduction - and converted it into a long-term one. The
molecular key to this activity is mTORC2 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex
2), according to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in an article that
appeared online in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
"Memory consolidation is a fundamental process,"
said Dr. Mauro Costa-Mattioli, assistant professor of neuroscience at BCM and
corresponding author of the report. "Memories are at the center of our
identity. They allow us to remember people, places and events for a long time,
even a lifetime. Understanding the precise mechanism by which memories are
stored in the brain will lead to the development of new treatments for
conditions associated with memory loss".