Nets full of holes catch long-term memories

Patterns in perineuronal structures swaddling nerve cells may last a lifetime

nerve cells from different parts of the mouse brain

MEMORY CATCHERS  Durable nets (green) wrap around nerve cells throughout this adult mouse brain (three different brain regions shown). Holes in these nets may store long-term memories, a new study suggests. Nerve cells are marked by red and cell nuclei are blue. 

S. Palida et al

CHICAGO —Tough, stable nets that swaddle nerve cells may be the ultimate memory catchers.