Posted on 06/04/2010 9:01:42 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Snails on speed don't get speedier—but their supercharged brains do learn better and make memories that last much longer, a new study says.
Scientists gave pond snails the amphetamine crystal meth to explore the memory-related brain processes that get humans so hooked on the drug.
Human meth users experience sensations of happiness and high self-esteem that help make the drug extremely addictive. Scientists suspect that such cravings may be tied to powerful "pathological memories" that make such highs difficult to forget.
"We were not trying to addict the snails," said study co-author Barbara Sorg, a biochemist at Washington State University in Pullman. "We were trying to see how meth might create a better memory in the very early stages of the brain process."
Drugged Snails Remember Irritation
Pond snails don't have the memory skills of more complex creatures, but they can recall experiences and learn from them.
During the experiment, Sorg and colleagues put aquatic snails in tanks, some of which contained meth-laced water, and some that that contained regular water. As aquatic creatures, the snails breathe mostly through their skins, but will extend air tubes above the water's surface when oxygen is scarce.
Low-oxygen levels in the water caused the snails to extend their tubes. The researchers poked the tubes with sticks, irritating the animals, thus training them not to extend their tubes.
Snails not exposed to meth seemed to retain long-term memories of the "training" for only a few hours, at which point they would start raising their tubes again.
But snails exposed to meth recalled the poking more than 24 hours later and kept their tubes closed.
"Waiter....there are snails on her plate....You would think that in a fancy restaurant at these prices you could keep the snails off the food! There are so many snails there you can't even see the food! Now take those away and bring us those melted cheese sandwich appetizers you talked me out of!"
How in the hell do you measure the memory of a snail and more importantly why would you need to?
Of course, this will be paid for by higher taxes on "the wealthy". The "wealthy" are defined as anyone whose income is higher than a snail's.
>”We were not trying to addict the snails,”<
Whew. Boy, is that ever a relief. I was really worried there for a minute.
They might be tweekin just as hard as the snails...
If I were a snail I would slug you for that remark.
Any guesses on who may be funding this study? We’ll Print More.
From the Way-Back machine. That is deep.
They’re already slimy and hideous, and they don’t have any teeth to lose, so I guess there’s no downside.
Not a PING
They may be smarter but what with all the tweaking is it really a useful smart?
That made me laugh - I’m going to have to remember that one!
What the h*ll does a snail have to remember?
After reading the prior replies to this thread it is obvious that stimulus money needs to be spent for further study.
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