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New research in sea slugs sparks controversy about the way memories are stored
- jacobsimon 8y agoSuper interesting experiment but not as new/groundbreaking as the article suggests. The paper is from May but I think this researcher has been exploring the topic for decades.
- jarfil 8y agoThis is interesting research, but I think it's been accepted for some time already that two identical neurons with the same chemical composition and the same neural connections will behave in the same way, and that cellular function is controlled by the RNA present in it which originates from its DNA moderated by epigenetic markers. It doesn't disprove that synapses form memories, only shows that chemical composition also plays a part in forming memories.
- MrQuincle 8y agoOr synaptic plasticity is just completely different in sea slugs. Maybe they don't have the luxury to rewire everything all the time and rely more on mechanisms that control neural excitation.
- mynegation 8y agoI am not ina field so question may be dumb. How do researchers control for possible non-neural factors and non-RNA factors? E.g. continuous light shocks increase the level of stress hormone responsible for slowing down muscle relaxation. This additional hormone is transferred, alongside RNA (how do you transfer only RNA?) and that increases response time in receiving slugs.
- lend000 8y agoIt says they injected RNA into the new sea-slugs -- did they try injecting a placebo as well? It does not specify how they did it, but I assume injecting RNA is somewhat traumatic for the sea slug and becoming more reclusive with its siphon and extremities could be a default reaction.