Posted by … after all this time, cocaine does make you smarter! Who knew?!
Cocaine-induced alterations in gene expression cause changes in neuronal morphology and behavior that may underlie cocaine addiction. In mice, we identified an essential role for histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) dimethylation and the lysine dimethyltransferase G9a in cocaine-induced structural and behavioral plasticity. Repeated cocaine administration reduced global levels of H3K9 dimethylation in the nucleus accumbens. This reduction in histone methylation was mediated through the repression of G9a in this brain region, which was regulated by the cocaine-induced transcription factor FosB. Using conditional mutagenesis and viral-mediated gene transfer, we found that G9a down-regulation increased the dendritic spine plasticity of nucleus accumbens neurons and enhanced the preference for cocaine, thereby establishing a crucial role for histone methylation in the long-term actions of cocaine.
…even if it is a simple neuronal “infinite loop”. Funny how our brain implements strategies that it, itself, finds pleasing even without conscious observation or what we express as a typical measure of comprehension on our part. It is the Matrix, indeed.
Doesn’t this really mean: (Read in the Voice of Chong) Umm the mice got fuckin wired man.
Am I the only person who things “Ungulate Emasculation” sounds naughty?
Emasculation isn’t a word I care to hear in any conversation near my person. Just saying, it has a bad rap in current culture
My person doesn’t like the sound of it either. Moreso if I was of Ungulate lineage.
Chong was (and always will be) right.