Remember your first day of school? How nervous did you feel when entering the class room? Or what about the first time you rode a bike with all of the excitement coursing through your body? These are known as episodic (片段) memories.
A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has shown that certain cells called time cells, make this type of memory possible. As memories are being formed, these time cells put a stamp on the memories. Later, this stamp helps us recount the exact sequence of events and experiences.
The 27 participants in the study had electrodes (电极) placed in their brains, which allowed scientists to measure cell activity in the hippocampus (海马体) and another area involved in the perception of time. Then they were asked to recall the words. During this time, the scientists looked at the activity of different brain cells. They found specific cells that fired signals during each sequence of words.
Gyorgy Buzsaki, a professor at New York University, said the study is important, as it can explain memory problems found in people who suffered damage to their hippocampus. In one experiment, scientists compared the memories of people who had just taken a tour of a college campus. However, those who had suffered damage to this area of the brain were unable to recall the proper sequence of events.
As of September 2019 , around 50 million people worldwide were suffering from dementia (痴呆) and the number will triple by 2050 , according to the World Health Organization. Such studies will help scientists develop better therapeutic interventions (医疗干预) for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the cause of 60 to 70 percent of dementia cases.
A. These cells help us form clear memories in a time order.
B. With these cells, we will be suffering from blurry memories.
C. Those without damage to their hippocampus had similar stories.
D. The number of people suffering from memory disorders is increasing.
E. Some memories stick with us and we can recall them like scenes in a movie.
F. The treatment of diseases like dementia (痴呆) has make a breakthrough recently.
G. They were shown sequences of 12 to 15 words on a computer screen in a period of about 30 seconds.
