X-Message-Number: 5152
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #5144 - #5149
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 15:02:28 -0800 (PST)

Hi!

For what it's worth I very much agree with Strout about the articles in the 
latest SCIENCE.
 
There is also a VERY interesting article in the 27 October SCIENCE. It is a 
news report of research reported in NEURON. Basically it turns out that 
active neurons generate the kind of growth tropins that cause growth of 
neurons, dendrites, etc. (cf. p. 581 in that issue). This is important because
it would explain just how activity of neurons might lead to the changes 
in connectivity etc. seen with experienced animals versus inexperienced ones.
Until this had been noticed, it wasn't clear at all just how repeated 
stimulation might actually be encoded into learning. (Of course, this work
needs to be followed up in more detail).

I don't believe I could claim that the basic formation of long term memory --
not what happens with LTP, but the kind of memory we have of riding a sled
when we were a kid, is yet COMPLETELY understood. But papers such as those
mentioned by Strout and the one in NEURON discussed in 27 October SCIENCE
make it look to me as if we are getting close.

I intend to discuss this work and its relatives in the next PERIASTRON, of
course.

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson


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