Scientists have discovered that sugar can strengthen stressful memories in the brain.
“Elchi” reports that scientists from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) have found that the intake of sugar by the brain after a stressful event can lead to the formation of long-term memory. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.
Experiments were conducted on Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. The insects were trained to associate a specific odor with an unpleasant stimulus – a mild electric shock. However, lasting memories were formed only when the flies consumed sugar after training.
As researcher Pierre-Yves Place explained, sugar-sensitive neurons play a key role. They are activated for a limited period after a stressful experience – approximately a few hours. If sugar enters the body during this period, a signal chain is triggered that converts short-term memory into long-term memory. The scientists discovered that the activated “sugar” neurons release tyrostimulin, a signaling molecule that transmits information to the areas of the brain responsible for storing memories. Blocking this signal disrupted the formation of stable memories, even if learning occurred. Furthermore, the study showed that this mechanism is linked to energy processes: the brain requires additional energy to consolidate memories, and the sugar signal acts as a kind of “permission” to spend it.
Interestingly, after stressful learning, the flies showed an increased preference for sweet foods. This suggests a possible link between stress, memory, and changes in eating behavior.
The authors emphasize that the results were obtained in insects and that similar mechanisms in humans have not yet been confirmed. Nevertheless, the study provides a new explanation for how stress can affect eating habits, including the phenomenon of emotional overeating.
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