Short Term Memory Loss

RE: Short Term Memory Loss

Submitted by seeker2 on Wed, 2004-08-11 - 14:15

Hi.

There has been a study done recently that might shed some light on this for you.

Scientists have long been captivated by the questions of how memories form and how they are represented in the brain. The answers to these questions may help researchers understand how to treat or prevent memory problems, drug addiction, and other human ailments. Thousands of changes in gene expression, neuron formation, nerve signaling, and other characteristics may be involved in the formation of just a single memory. Scientists refer to any learning-induced change in the brain as a "memory trace."

Using a high-powered microscope to watch the fluorescent signals in flies' brains with as they learned, the researchers discovered that a specific set of neurons, called projection neurons, had a greater number of active connections with other neurons after the conditioning experiment.

These newly active connections appeared within 3 minutes after the experiment, suggesting that the synapses which became active after the learning took place were already formed but remained "silent" until they were needed to represent the new memory.

The new synaptic activity disappeared by 7 minutes after the experiment, but the flies continued to avoid the odor they associated with the shock. This is the first time that optical imaging has been used to visualize a memory trace, Dr. Davis says. "It's phenomenally powerful, like a movie appearing in front of you," he adds. The study suggests that the earliest representation of a new memory occurs by rapid changes – "like flipping a switch" – in the number of neuronal connections that respond to the odor, rather than by formation of new connections or by an increase in the number of neurons that represent an odor, he adds.  

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040514065817.htm

RE: Short Term Memory Loss

Submitted by terriez on Sat, 2004-08-21 - 10:31

Hi, I'm 41 year old and have been diagnosed with complex partial epilepsy 3 years ago. I have always have somewhat of a memory problems but over the past year it has got worse. I have problems with short term memory. But that not all, also I'm starting to have problems with wrong words coming out of my mouth, stumbling over words when I read,how to spell words sometimes, losing train of thought, trying to come up with the right word,irratable, low sexual desire, sometimes I feel like I'm in a complete brain fog. I hate what I'm going thru. Sometimes I get so angry over all this. I used to read alot now I can't anymore because I do not remember what I read. I am married with 3 children and they are starting to see these problems in me but I have yet to tell them some of what I am going thru.  I am on 800mg of Cabatrol a day and wonder if the medicine could have some to do with it. I know that this type of epilepsy does effect some of these things but does the medicine make it worse. Please help  has anyone experienced all of these things and have they got worse or better.

Thanks Terrie