Putting mice into hibernation causes a major loss of synapses

Hibernation cuts down on synapses, but mice seem to retain memories anyway.

The short version

• Our leading hypothesis for how our memories are stored is that when you learn something, the connections among neurons involved get stronger and physically larger, and that constitutes the memory.
• The trouble is that these connections significantly change over time—they’re plastic.
• The result is a state dubbed QIH, for Q-neuron-induced hypothermia and hypometabolism.

What happened

The most important thing about QIH, though, is that it can be switched on and off at will. In Tanaka’s experiments the mice spent 48 hours in the hibernation-like state and then woke up.

Why it matters

For their synapses, these 48 hours worked like Thanos’ snap .

Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.