A first glimpse at the molecular processes underlying learning

Learning and memory are fundamental properties of higher organisms. While learning is the ability to acquire knowledge, memory refers to the ability to store acquired information and recall it in a novel context. In the last 50 years, it became clear that different forms of memories can be attributed to distinct regions within the brain. A region called hippocampus plays a crucial role in this process: it contains cells which are responsible for explicit forms of memories. Explicit memory represents conscious knowledge about the world, objects and people. Implicit memory, in contrast, represents unconscious procedures. Primarily we are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory.