{"id":11002,"date":"2021-08-13T14:10:14","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T14:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coolled.com\/?p=11002"},"modified":"2021-08-13T14:10:31","modified_gmt":"2021-08-13T14:10:31","slug":"why-you-cant-teach-an-old-worm-new-tricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coolled.com\/news\/why-you-cant-teach-an-old-worm-new-tricks\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you can\u2019t teach an old worm new tricks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some of us know all too well how it becomes harder to learn new skills as we age. We recently came across a fascinating research paper which looks into the reasons why, because understanding the patterns of cognitive decline may then reveal ways in which this process could be slowed.<\/p>\n
Previous discoveries suggested a link between increased neural activity and sensory input, and reduced memory formation and ability to learn. The researchers put this theory to the test in vivo<\/em>, in the well-characterised C. elegans<\/em>.<\/p>\n Studying neural activity and sensory input <\/strong><\/p>\n A useful feature of C. elegans<\/em> is that it favours optimum O2<\/sub> concentrations and will speed up its movements in an environment with unfavourably high O2<\/sub> concentration. This measurable output is mediated by O2<\/sub>-sensing neurons, which increase their activity in response to long-term increased O2<\/sub> levels.<\/p>\n Worms can learn<\/strong><\/p>\n The worms can also demonstrate plasticity: a worm\u2019s movement response to changing O2<\/sub> concentration differs depending on whether they were initially cultured in an optimum or high oxygen environment. But this can be altered by a temporary change in O2 concentration, and this assay readout indicates plasticity; or the worm\u2019s ability to learn.<\/p>\n What did the study find?<\/strong><\/p>\n As worms age, plasticity was lost faster in worms exposed to higher sensory input (i.e., cultured at higher O2<\/sub> levels). Measuring Ca2+<\/sup> in the O2<\/sub>-sensing neurons also found that neuronal activity was higher in these worms.<\/p>\n The CoolLED pE-4000 Illumination System<\/a> was used for ratiometric calcium imaging with the genetically encoded yellow chameleon YC63.60 fluorophore, with excitation at 435 nm for 300 ms. The high-speed control and range of wavelengths available makes the pE-4000 a versatile system for labs using a wide range of fluorophores. For labs specialising in Fura-2 for calcium imaging, the pE-340fura<\/sup> <\/a>offers 340 and 380 nm wavelengths alongside everyday fluorescence applications. (And don’t forget the pE-800fura<\/sup> coming soon!<\/a>)<\/p>\n Significantly, further experiments using a range of techniques such as optogenetics and RNAi confirmed the hypothesis that neuronal activity and Ca2+<\/sup> signalling dictate plasticity loss with age in response to O2<\/sub> exposure.<\/p>\n Detailed gene expression profiling looked into the molecular basis of this process, and the findings suggest that higher neuron activity prioritises maintaining a high firing rate, while learning-related genes (i.e., plasticity) receive limited resources.<\/p>\n For more information on this study, please see the full research paper at: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7554\/eLife.59711<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reference <\/strong><\/p>\n Science Snapshot: High neural activity accelerates the decline of cognitive plasticity with age in Caenorhabditis elegans.1<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[559,494,552],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n