How memories are stored in the brain

A team of scientists has developed a way to see where and how memories are stored in the brain.

The team, led by Don Arnold and Richard Roberts of USC, engineered microscopic probes that light up synapses in a living neuron in real time by attaching fluorescent markers onto synaptic proteins — all without affecting the neuron’s ability to function.

The fluorescent markers allow scientists to see live excitatory and inhibitory synapses for the first time — and, importantly, how they change as new memories are formed.

The synapses appear as bright spots along dendrites (the branches of a neuron that transmit electrochemical signals).

As the brain processes new information,

Boost your brain power with these 5 tips

Maintaining a healthy brain is essential as it is the command centre of the entire body. It controls daily functions like motor control, visual and auditory processing, sensation, learning, memory and emotions. Your brain deteriorates as you grow older but the rate is accelerated if you don’t take care of it. Here are some steps you can take to help keep your brain healthy and delay the onset of cognitive decline.

1. Exercise

Studies have shown that exercise helps in increasing brain power apart from strengthening your heart and muscles. Although regular exercise such as walking boosts brain power, aerobic exercise benefits the most as it improves cognitive function and increases the size of