As military tech and politics enthusiasts with an eye for cutting-edge discoveries, the latest findings in neuroscience may strike a chord with your profound interest in strategic advancement and the human psyche’s resilience. A recent study has revealed that neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons in the brain, could hold the key to more effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and drug addiction.
The research, conducted by a team led by Assistant Professor Risako Fujikawa from Kyushu University, Japan, and Professor Paul Frankland from the University of Toronto, Canada, found that increased neuron production in the hippocampus—the memory center of the brain—can help mice forget traumatic memories. The hippocampus continually generates new neurons, which play a critical role in both the formation and the forgetting of memories. “Neurogenesis is important for forming new memories but also for forgetting memories. We think this happens because when new neurons integrate into neural circuits, new connections are forged and older connections are lost, disrupting the ability to recall memories,” explains Fujikawa. “We wanted to see if this process could help mice forget stronger, traumatic memories too.”
The team subjected mice to two strong shocks in varied environments, leading to PTSD-like behaviors. Significantly, mice that later engaged in exercise—running on a wheel—demonstrated an increased number of new neurons in their hippocampi. Not only did their PTSD-like behaviors subside, but these mice also showed a remarkable ability to forget fearful memories associated with the shocks.
To isolate the effects of exercise-induced neurogenesis, the researchers employed genetic approaches. They accelerated the integration of new neurons into neural circuits using optogenetics—a method that allows neurons to be activated by light— and by genetically altering proteins that inhibit neuron growth. While both approaches helped mice forget fear memories, exercise had a more profound effect on reducing PTSD-like behaviors, emphasizing the compound benefits of physical activity.
“In our experiments, exercise had the most powerful impact on reducing symptoms of PTSD and drug dependence in mice, and clinical studies in humans also show it is effective,” says Risako. “I think this is the most important takeaway.”
Relevant articles:
– New Research Reveals That Exercise Can Rewire Brains and Erase Traumatic Memories, SciTechDaily
– Exercise spurs neuron growth and rewires the brain, helping mice forget traumatic and addictive memories, ScienceDaily
– Worlds largest childhood trauma study uncovers brain rewiring, University of Essex
– How Can You Rewire Your Brain After Trauma? · Sabino Recovery, sabinorecovery.com