The quest to understand the mechanisms underlying learning and memory has been one of the main focuses of neuroscience. An innovative study by Tang et al. (1999) demonstrated that genetic manipulation of the NR2B subunit of the NMDA receptor in transgenic mice resulted in a significant increase in the learning and memory capacity of these animals.
The NMDA receptor, a synaptic coincidence detector crucial for neuronal plasticity, plays a key role in memory formation. The NR2B subunit, in turn, regulates the opening time of the NMDA receptor ion channel, influencing synaptic coincidence detection and, consequently, synaptic plasticity (Tang et al., 1999).
The transgenic mice, named “Doogie” after the character from the TV series “Doogie Howser, MD”, showed an increase in the expression of the NR2B subunit in brain regions important for memory, such as the cortex and hippocampus. This overexpression led to increased activity of NMDA receptors, facilitating long-term potentiation (LTP) and improving the performance of mice on diverse behavioral tasks such as object recognition, fear conditioning, and spatial learning (Tang et al., 1999 ).
This pioneering study not only confirmed the importance of the NMDA receptor and the NR2B subunit in memory formation, but also opened new perspectives for the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and learning disorders. The possibility of genetically enhancing cognitive abilities in mammals, as demonstrated by Tang et al. (1999), represents a significant advance in neuroscience and the quest to unravel the mysteries of the human mind.
Reference :
TANG, YP et al. Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice. Nature, vol. 401, no. 6748, p. 63-69, 1999.
