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memory/ in a creature that can't find the window it just flew in through ? Quoting rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]>: > Science News > > Fly's Tiny Brain May Hold Huge Human Benefits > ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2008) - Before swatting at one of those pesky flies > that come out as the days lengthen and the temperature rises, one should > probably think twice. A University of Missouri researcher has found, through > > the study of Drosophila (a type of fruit fly), that by manipulating levels > of certain compounds associated with the "circuitry" of the brain, key genes > > related to memory can be isolated and tested. The results of the study may > benefit human patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and could > eventually lead to discoveries in the treatment of depression. > "The implication for human health is that it could influence our > understanding of the cognitive decline associated with Parkinson's disease > and depression in humans," said Troy Zars, MU assistant professor of > biological science in the College of Arts and Science. > The idea that animals have a system that can match the quality of a memory > with the significance of the memory is well established. If the event is > significant, the memory and detail surrounding it is much stronger, lasts > longer and is more easily recalled compared to more insignificant or common > events. The problem the study addresses is the understanding of the > mechanism by which that occurs. > "We have developed a strategy to address how this matching occurs, so we can > > 'turn that crank' over and over again. It allows us to answer the questions, > > 'What gene is it" How does it function" How does it interact with other > proteins"' We can find brand-new, completely unexpected things," Zars said. > A major goal of neuroscience is to discover and study memory-forming > structures within a brain. Zars said he works with Drosophila because they > are a well-established genetic model, have a relatively less complex brain > than the mouse or human (250,000 neurons versus 100 billion neurons), and > have a broad repertoire of behaviors. > Memory in the flies was tested using a specialized chamber in which single > flies were allowed to wander freely. The chamber was outfitted with heating > elements. When the fly moved to a particular side, the whole chamber rapidly > > heated to an uncomfortable temperature. The flies eventually learned, or > remembered, to avoid that half if brain "circuitry" is functioning properly. > > A mutation in certain flies, however, altered the levels of serotonin and > dopamine, which resulted in lower memory scores. > "This research is important because by studying a simple brain it will help > us ultimately understand complex neural systems," Zars said. Zars' study was > > published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. > Adapted from materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia, via > EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. > University of Missouri-Columbia (2008, March 24). Fly's Tiny Brain May Hold > Huge Human Benefits. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from > http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/03/080324173545 > Rayilyn Brown > Board Member AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation > [log in to unmask] > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn