Scientists have discovered a "toggle switch" in the brain that can be used to turn a person on and off.
When life becomes bleak, when there is especially nothing to do, and food is tight, some mammals prefer not to suffer, but to wait out difficult times in hibernation. In dens or burrows. As it turned out recently, such tactics could be resorted to not only by recognized "lazybones" - bears and other marmots, but everyone. Including people. Since the mechanisms that allow hibernation of one duration or another, nature has equipped, it seems, all mammals. Placed them in the brain. The mechanisms are in working order even for those who do not use them.
Structures that can be manipulated to induce hibernation or suspended animation - this is the scientific name for hibernation - discovered by scientists from two independent groups from the United States and Japan. Some were led by Sinisa Hrvatin of Harvard Medical School (Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston), others by Tohru M. Takahashi of the University of Tsukuba (Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba).
A kind of "toggle switch" that turns hibernation on and off was a group of neurons located in the hypothalamus. Scientists even "clicked" them in experiments on mice and rats.
Where they have the "tumbler" mice themselves and showed. They fall into a state very close to hibernation - they freeze from cold and hunger. But they do not die, they only reduce metabolism and body temperature. By tracing what happens in the brain, the scientists saw the neurons that control the process, and their artificial activation drove the animals into hibernation. Conversely, blocking awakened.
During hibernation, body temperature drops, metabolism and other vital processes slow down.
With the same success experimenters injected into suspended animation rats, which, like us, usually do not fall into a similar state. Thus, demonstrating that they have the appropriate structures. And they could function.
The authors of the "discovery" do not hide: someday they will find the corresponding "tumblers" here too. And of course, they will try to "click" them, plunging the volunteers into hibernation.
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Scientists described the results of their experiments in detail in the journal Nature. The Japanese are in one room, the Americans are in the other. I briefly introduced the research to Scientist magazine.
Why do people need hibernation? Doctors believe that this condition will avoid serious damage to organs and tissues in those who are seriously ill.
Science fiction writers see different perspectives. Astronauts or astronauts, immersed in hibernation, and will not notice how they will be already on Mars. Or even further. Enthusiasts quite seriously discuss such plans, develop tactics for long-distance space flights in an unconscious state - in a kind of coma. Until recently, however, they believed that suspended animation could be achieved simply by cooling the bodies. But now - after the Japanese-American research - the situation may become simpler.
The spacecraft for the sleeper will be much smaller than for the awake for the entire flight.
The most daring predictions from futurologists. They believe that science will make humans hibernate as easily as bears. As a result, part of the population will be obliged to do just that - in a bearish way and in accordance with the planned schedule. In order to economize. For example, in winter - on heating. Or on food - during some regular self-isolation. Yes, society is useful. What? A man fell asleep at home and does not spread anything harmful. He is not eager to attend mass events. As the regime weakened or for some other sudden need, people can be woken up.
VLADIMIR LAGOVSKY