Electronic Journal of Biology

A Discussion Regarding the Feasibility of Memory Enhancement through Electrical Stimulation of the Paper Circuit

Long Term Potentiation (LTP) is the neurological process that naturally enhances our ability to recall memories that we have formed neural networks for. It commonly occurs in pyramidal neurons, which are abundant within regions of the hippocampus. Since neurons can be stimulated to commit neural activity through electrical stimulation, it can be reasonably assumed that electrically stimulating (pyramidal) neurons within certain regions of the hippocampus and other structures throughout the paper circuit can induce the release of certain neurotransmitters important in LTP at a higher frequency. This increased release of glutamate and subsequent increased diffusion of sodium and calcium ions into postsynaptic neurons’ dendrites would theoretically make LTP occur in these same neurons (where LTP had already just naturally occurred) repeatedly, thus adding more AMPA and NMDA receptors to these neurons’ dendritic membranes and producing more Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which would cause synaptogenesis to occur at an increased rate as well.

Author(s): Geeta Dylan Amiri* and Mohammad Reza Bolouri

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