Function of Oligomers in Storing Memories in the Brain

The human brain stores memories at a rapid rate, but over time, these memories fade and become no longer useful. Based on the research conducted by Dr. Kausik Si, the method of consolidating such short term memory into long term memory highly involves the oligomers in the brain. Oligomers are self-sustaining polymers located at the synapses between neurons maintained by a protein called Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element Binding protein (CPEB).
This protein exists partly in the form of oligomers, more specifically the Orb2 oligomers, which increase when the synapses strengthen. The idea of CPEB working during times of consolidating short term memory into long term memory was always assumed by several scientists but was never actually proven till the experiment conducted by Dr. Si.
Dr. Si's experiment proved that the disruption of the Orb2 oligomers inhibited their function of stabilizing the memory. To do so, the researchers generated a mutant fruit fly with the inability to oligomerize while maintaining the level of the neurons in the brain. The studies showed that the mutant fruit flies were not able to do functions they learned 48 hours past but the normal fruit flies were functioning fine and were able to remember tasks they learned 48 hours after the experiment. This proves that the oligomers do play a much larger role than previously expected and the increase in numbers of them correlates partly to the consolidation process of remembering.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162409.htm