Overclocking Neurons: One Training Session Yields Lasting Memories Across Species

Researchers inhibited the mitochondrial calcium exporter LETM1 in fruit flies and mice, causing calcium to linger in mitochondria and boosting ATP production. This metabolic boost allowed a single training session to form long-term memories lasting over 24 hours, while middle-term memory remained unchanged, and the effect was conserved across species, suggesting neuronal energy availability can shape memory consolidation. The approach currently relies on genetic manipulation and isn’t yet transferable to humans, but could point to future strategies to enhance memory or address diseases with energy deficits, pending safer, more precise tools.