New Research Shows How the Body Truly Keeps the Score: Cells Outside the Brain Keep Memories
The concept of memory has traditionally been associated primarily with the brain and nervous system, though we know based on holistic health practices that “the issues are [stored] in the tissues” and the body keeps the score.
Recent research published in Nature Communications challenges the former traditional notion and corroborates the latter holistic views, demonstrating that non-neural cells can also exhibit memory-like behaviors.
Memory Beyond the Brain
Memory has long been associated exclusively with the brain and nervous system. However, emerging evidence challenges this notion. A recent study published in Nature Communications demonstrates that memory-like processes occur in non-neural cells, fundamentally shifting our understanding of memory storage and formation.
This discovery supports holistic perspectives on health, echoing insights from Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score, which explains how the body stores trauma. Similarly, it validates the idea that "issues are in the tissues," highlighting how the entire body plays an active role in responding to and retaining experiences.
Key Findings of the Study
Non-Neural Cells Can "Remember"
The study focused on non-neural cells, such as kidney and skin cells, which are not part of the nervous system. Researchers demonstrated that these cells can exhibit memory-like behaviors when exposed to repeated stimuli. This suggests that memory processes might be a universal cellular property rather than exclusive to neurons.
The Massed-Spaced Effect
A central feature of the study was the massed-spaced effect, a phenomenon where spaced-out stimuli produce stronger and longer-lasting responses than repetitive, continuous stimulation. This effect, previously observed in neural systems, was replicated in non-neural cells.
Researchers exposed cells to repeated pulses of activators like forskolin (to stimulate PKA pathways) and phorbol esters (to activate PKC pathways). Cells responded more robustly and sustainably when these pulses were spaced, mimicking learning patterns observed in the brain.
The Molecular Basis of Cellular Memory
The study identified key molecular mechanisms underpinning this memory-like behavior:
ERK (Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase): Spaced pulses led to sustained activation of ERK, a molecule crucial for memory formation.
CREB (cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein): Spaced stimulation enhanced CREB phosphorylation, which is essential for transcriptional changes linked to memory.
Blocking ERK or CREB activity negated the memory-like effects, proving their critical roles in this process.
Implications for Health and Healing
A Cellular Blueprint for Memory
This research broadens our understanding of how memories form, suggesting that the body’s cells may play an active role in remembering experiences. While the brain handles declarative memories, cellular memory may influence how the body reacts to past trauma, stress, and injury.
Holistic Healing and Trauma Recovery
The study provides a biological basis for holistic health approaches that address how the body stores trauma. Chronic stress and trauma alter cellular functioning, leaving imprints that manifest as physical symptoms. Therapies focused on body awareness—such as mindfulness, somatic tracking, and trauma-informed care—align with these findings by targeting the body’s role in processing and healing memories.
Enhancing Learning and Treating Disorders
Understanding how non-neural cells encode and retain information could lead to novel treatments for memory-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s and PTSD. It also opens the door to new methods for enhancing learning and retention.
Connecting the Dots: Body, Memory, and Mind
As this study shows, memory is not confined to the brain. The body is an active participant in processing, storing, and responding to experiences. These findings resonate with the bio-psycho-social model of care, emphasizing that mental health and healing must address the interplay of biology, emotions, and social environments.
When trauma or chronic stress disrupts the nervous system, the body’s cellular memory may hold clues for recovery. As Dr. van der Kolk writes, "The body keeps the score." This research adds scientific weight to that sentiment, highlighting how memory extends into the tissues of our bodies.
Practical Takeaways
Embrace Body-Based Practices: Techniques like somatic therapy and breathwork can help release stored trauma and recalibrate the body.
Address Chronic Stress: Prolonged stress affects cellular memory. Mindfulness, reflection, and movement practices can support cellular and systemic health.
Support Neuroplasticity: Therapies like ketamine-assisted treatment enhance the brain’s ability to rewire and integrate healing at both neural and cellular levels.
Memory is more than a brain function—it’s a whole-body phenomenon. As we deepen our understanding of cellular memory, we uncover new possibilities for healing trauma, enhancing learning, and fostering resilience.
Your body is not just a vessel; it’s a repository of your experiences, working quietly to process and heal. By embracing this connection, we can unlock new pathways for wellness and transformation.