Erasing long-term memories in rats

Researchers used a protein injection to wipe out a long-term memory in rats. The scientists at Insrael's Weizmann Institute of Science and the State University of New York conditioned the rodents to associate a certain smell with being sick. Then, the injected the rat's brains with a protein, called ZIP, that inactivates an enzyme thought to be essential to the continued storage of long-term memory. Even after a month, the mice showed no memory of the previous conditioning associating the odor with illness. From News@Nature:

"No matter what we did, the memory never came back," says (State University of New York neuroscientist Todd) Sacktor.

The team suggests that PKM-zeta could maintain memory by creating new receptors for neurotransmitter molecules, says Dudai. A so-far unidentified mechanism that keeps this enzyme active would then be crucial for keeping hold of long-term memories. By blocking PKM-zeta, ZIP may halt this process. "It's like placing a stick in an engine. The minute you stop it the memory collapses," says Dudai.

Link

Previously on BB:
• New techniques to wipe out specific memories Link

UPDATE: BB reader Gary O'Brien writes, "WNYC's Radiolab, a fantastic geekfest of a radio show, did an episode on the very nature of memory and touched on research very similar to that you posted today." Link