#BTSP

A major study from the University of Chicago rethinks how memories form, offering fresh insights into neurological conditions like dementia. Published in Nature Neuroscience, the work examines how synaptic plasticity—the brain’s ability to strengthen connections between neurons—works in real life, not just in classic theories. The researchers highlight a shift from traditional Hebbian ideas to Behavioral Timescale Synaptic Plasticity (BTSP), a model that better explains how memory representations change over time.

A groundbreaking study from the University of Chicago has turned conventional wisdom on memory formation on its head, offering new insights that could have profound implications for understanding neurological disorders such as dementia—an area of keen interest for Thai researchers and healthcare professionals. The study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Neuroscience, dissects the intricate workings of synaptic plasticity, revealing complex mechanisms that depart from traditional theories. Synaptic plasticity, previously understood through the lens of Hebbian principles—where neurons that frequently activate together tend to reinforce their connections—now invites a new paradigm: Behavioral Timescale Synaptic Plasticity (BTSP).

A recent study from a leading U.S. university rethinks how memories are formed. Published in a top neuroscience journal, the research questions the long-held belief that memory storage relies solely on synaptic strengthening or weakening. The work highlights the brain’s hippocampus and how memory representations may evolve even in familiar contexts.

Traditionally, scientists described memory through synaptic plasticity—connections between neurons that grow or shrink with experience. The saying “neurons that fire together wire together” captures this idea. The new study, led by a senior neurobiologist, suggests a more nuanced picture. Neuronal representations appear to change over time, even when environments feel familiar, pointing to a dynamic process beyond classic models.