CREB protein key to memory storage in brain

In the ongoing search to figure out how and why the brain stores memories, a research team has discovered that the secret all along has been CREB protein, a vital component in the mediation of genetic transcription and expression. From the report at physorg.com:

"We discovered that the amount of CREB influences whether or not the brain stores a memory," said Silva. "If a cell is low in CREB, it is less likely to keep a memory. If the cell is high in CREB, it is more likely to store the memory."

Human implications of the new research could prove profound.

"By artificially manipulating CREB levels among groups of cells, we can determine where the brain stores its memories."

While this article focuses mainly on the therapeutic potentials of this discovery -- treating memory disorders like Alzheimer's -- the implications of this study on the formation of a complete genetic model of memory should be duly noted. Some might call this discovery the missing link, providing a causal mechanism for how perception directly effects genetic expression and new memory formation at the cellular level. This could also lead to a revolution in teaching and communication theory, adding an explicit genetic component to the understanding of how people learn and remember.