The achievements of memory

“The people we love are the foundations of life”

Photo: Camila Cunha – Ascom/PUCRS

In a room filled with paintings showing Buenos Aires at the time of his childhood, as well as a childhood drawing and photos of his grandchildren and his wife, neuroscientist Iván Izquierdo claims that the most important things in life are the people and the things we love, but not everyone is aware of that, since they waste their time on unnecessary things. At the age of 78, he is the head of the Memory Center and will not discouraged by the moment Brazilian research is going through. He states to PUCRS Magazine that there is no such thing as the subconscious and that “psychoanalysts are about to become extinct“. In his opinion, many of Freudian’s theories which did not rely on a physiological basis are obsolete.

In 2016, you will have been studying the biology of memory for 50 years, and researching for 60. What makes you prouder in your career?

I hardly ever use the word proud. I prefer to use the word satisfaction. Many things, actually. As a researcher, discovering the main biochemical mechanisms that are used to constitute memory in several brain structures makes me feel proud. Additionally, I will say that the difference between short-term and long-term memory also makes me feel proud. We have shown that these are two separate, parallel and non-consecutive processes. A short-term memory is formed and, at the same time, a long-term one is developed. Both of them will coexist, but after six hours, only the latter will survive. This is important because it provided some insights into the structure and treatment of some conditions, for instance, when the short-term memory is absent. Delusion, which is observed in some nervous diseases, is one of them, as well as some injuries in some regions of the parietal cortex. When it comes to long-term memories, one example is Alzheimer’s disease. As we tend to prefer brand new research, this year, Jociane Myskiw, Cristiane Furini and I, in collaboration with the Italian group, were able to show that there is a kind of a key mediated by histamine in the brain which indicates whether the individual will evoke a memory or not. At least in mice, but definitely in humans because the structures

You have been working at PUCRS since 2004. What are the most important things you have experienced here?

The quality of researchers. Currently I work with two extraordinary professors. They are as good as the best professor I could’ve had throughout these 60 years. We have outstanding students.

To find out more about the interview, please visit PUCRS Magazine 2016 annual issue