忘記了什么事嗎,？按下開關(guān)，向大腦發(fā)送一簇電信號，就能重建失去的記憶,。美國科學(xué)家成功地在實驗鼠身上實現(xiàn)了這種情景,，這項新研究有望用于幫助腦部受損的人恢復(fù)基本的生活自理能力。
美國南加州大學(xué)的科學(xué)家報告說,，他們在實驗鼠腦部的海馬區(qū)植入電極,，訓(xùn)練它們進行一系列杠桿操作以獲得獎勵，并通過電極記錄這一過程中實驗鼠的腦部活動,。
此前的研究曾表明,，海馬區(qū)能把短期記憶轉(zhuǎn)換成長期記憶?？茖W(xué)家隨后在實驗鼠的海馬區(qū)注入某種物質(zhì),，阻斷與長期記憶有關(guān)的神經(jīng)信號。觀察表明,，這使實驗鼠忘記了所受到的訓(xùn)練,。
然而，當(dāng)研究人員用電極向?qū)嶒炇竽X部輸入信號,、模擬訓(xùn)練過程中的腦部活動時,，實驗鼠又暫時記起了正確的操作順序。如果輸入的是打亂過的信號,，就沒有這種效果,。
科學(xué)家在新一期的《神經(jīng)工程學(xué)期刊》發(fā)表論文說，希望今后能用這種方法向人類腦部輸入信號,，幫助早老癡呆癥,、中風(fēng)或腦外傷患者恢復(fù)生活自理能力。不過,，如何將人類生活中的簡單日常事務(wù)編成正確的代碼,，將是一項艱巨的挑戰(zhàn)。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Journal of Neural Engineering DOI： 10.1088/1741-2560/8/4/046017
A cortical neural prosthesis for restoring and enhancing memory
Berger, Theodore W; Hampson, Robert E; Song, Dong; Goonawardena, Anushka; Marmarelis, Vasilis Z; Deadwyler, Sam A
A primary objective in developing a neural prosthesis is to replace neural circuitry in the brain that no longer functions appropriately. Such a goal requires artificial reconstruction of neuron-to-neuron connections in a way that can be recognized by the remaining normal circuitry, and that promotes appropriate interaction. In this study, the application of a specially designed neural prosthesis using a multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear model is demonstrated by using trains of electrical stimulation pulses to substitute for MIMO model derived ensemble firing patterns. Ensembles of CA3 and CA1 hippocampal neurons, recorded from rats performing a delayed-nonmatch-to-sample (DNMS) memory task, exhibited successful encoding of trial-specific sample lever information in the form of different spatiotemporal firing patterns. MIMO patterns, identified online and in real-time, were employed within a closed-loop behavioral paradigm. Results showed that the model was able to predict successful performance on the same trial. Also, MIMO model-derived patterns, delivered as electrical stimulation to the same electrodes, improved performance under normal testing conditions and, more importantly, were capable of recovering performance when delivered to animals with ensemble hippocampal activity compromised by pharmacologic blockade of synaptic transmission. These integrated experimental-modeling studies show for the first time that, with sufficient information about the neural coding of memories, a neural prosthesis capable of real-time diagnosis and manipulation of the encoding process can restore and even enhance cognitive, mnemonic processes.PACS87.80.-y Biophysical techniques (research methods)
