In a new study, researchers have identified a circuit in the anterior thalamus that is necessary for remembering how to navigate a maze.

This research is significant as it could offer a promising target for treatments helping in memory loss reversal in older individuals, without affecting other parts of the brain.

With age, the working memory declines, making it difficult for people to perform daily routine tasks.

An important brain region linked to this type of memory is the anterior thalamus, mainly involved in spatial memory. In an animal study, MIT researchers have detected a circuit in the anterior thalamus that is required for remembering how to navigate a maze.

They also reported that this circuit is weakened in older mice but enhancing its activity can significantly influence their ability to run the maze correctly. An understanding of how the thalamus controls the cortical output may lead to the discovery of more specific and druggable targets in this region, instead of generally modulating the prefrontal cortex, which has several different functions.