Tokyo Üniversitesi solves how the brain remembers a person it dislikes

A research team from Tokyo Üniversitesi has shed light on why the brain dislikes a certain person and how this emotion is formed, through experiments conducted on mice. The study used the 'optogenetic' technique, which allows the activity of nerve cells to be controlled by light. Thanks to this method, scientists were able to both create and erase negative feelings towards another mouse in a mouse. The results of the study will be published in Science, a ABD-based scientific journal. These findings are thought to open new doors in the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression and social anxiety disorder in the future.

In their previous studies, the team had determined that clusters of nerve cells located in an area called 'ventral CA1' in the hippocampus region, which is responsible for memory, stored memories related to specific individuals. In this new study, how these memory cells interact with the amygdala, which manages emotions, was examined in detail. It was observed that when the neural connections between the two regions are strengthened, the individual develops an intense fear and antipathy towards the person in question. This mechanism clearly demonstrates how the brain combines social memories with emotional responses. The discovery is considered an important step in understanding the biological basis of social memory and emotional responses.

Scientists managed to eliminate the avoidance behavior of mice towards other mice by weakening this connection between nerve cells. During the experiments, when the connection was weakened with light, it was observed that the mouse's negative attitude towards the other mouse it had previously avoided completely disappeared. Conversely, when fear was created by giving the mouse an electric shock and the relevant memory cells were stimulated with light, an artificial avoidance behavior could be created between the mice. This situation showed that the brain's complex emotions, such as displeasure and fear, could be manipulated in a laboratory setting according to their characteristics. The results prove that emotion formation is based on a dynamic and reversible mechanism.

These groundbreaking results of the research will make a great contribution to the understanding of mental illnesses that cause serious problems in social life. In particular, the treatment processes of individuals who experience excessive fear in interpersonal relationships and constantly avoid communication can be reshaped thanks to this mechanism. Targeting these similar networks in the human brain holds promise for a radical solution to conditions such as social anxiety disorder. If the research is translated into clinical applications, neurological interventions that do not rely solely on medication may become possible in the treatment of mental illnesses. Experts believe that this approach could create a revolutionary transformation in the field of psychiatry.

Profesör Terutaka Okuyama, who leads the research from Tokyo Üniversitesi, also drew attention to the broad goals of the study. Okuyama expressed hope that these findings will guide the development of brand new treatment strategies for diseases such as social anxiety disorder and depression. The team plans to investigate in future studies how this mechanism works in the human brain and how possible side effects can be prevented. However, it is emphasized that ethical and safety dimensions must also be rigorously evaluated before moving on to human trials. In the long term, whether these methods will become a standard part of personalized psychiatric treatments remains a matter of curiosity.