The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has discovered molecular mechanism of synaptic facilitation, instantaneous strengthening of synaptic transmission, which may be physiological basis of instantaneous memory. Synaptic facilitation has been known for a long time and studied by major physiologists. However, its mechanism and its biological meaning still remain ambiguous. This study revealed that intramolecular interaction of a calcium binding protein, Synaptotagmin 7 (Syt7) functions for synaptic facilitation, and the interaction between Syt7 domains is required for memory. This study using a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which is a model animal for genetic analysis, provides an insight for general mechanism of memory, which may suggest new designs of future ICT. Since this is the first elucidation of molecular mechanism of Syt7, this study has the potential in the future to be applied to diseases, which has been reported to be related to Syt7.

This achievement appeared in the “Calcium sensing by C2A domain of Synaptotagmin 7 is required through the linker for both synaptic facilitation and memory”, in Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on September 21, 2026.

Researchers have analysed aerial laser scans of huge areas across the Cairngorms Connect partnership in the Scottish Highlands, to produce incredibly detailed maps showing millions of young trees have naturally established following an increase in deer culling.

The British Ecological Society’s Marsh Ecology Book of the Year is awarded to the book that has had the greatest influence on the science of ecology in any two-year period.