The Mechanical Basis of Memory - the MeshCODE Theory.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biophysics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• The precise location and form of information storage in the brain remain a significant unsolved mystery in biological science.
• Existing models struggle to fully explain the physical basis of memory and engrams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a unifying theory for data storage in animal brains, termed MeshCODE.
• To elucidate a novel mechanism for memory encoding and retrieval based on mechanical protein conformations.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical framework development based on established biophysical principles.
• Identification of mechanosensitive proteins (e.g., talin) as key components of synaptic scaffolds.
• Modeling the formation of signaling complexes and their role in stabilizing mechanical codes.

Main Results:

• Proposes memory is stored in a mechanically encoded binary format within synaptic protein conformations.
• Introduces the MeshCODE framework, where mechanosensitive proteins act as binary switches.
• Suggests synaptic activity writes and updates these mechanical codes, forming physical engrams.

Conclusions:

• The MeshCODE framework offers a physical location for memory storage at the synapse.
• This mechanical basis for memory supports the view of the mind as an addressable read-write organic supercomputer.
• The theory unifies dynamic and persistent information storage through a binary mechanical code.