Is your memory failing you lately? Then it could be that you're going through a lot of stress, whether you admit it or not. In fact, it happens to be true with pond snails too.

According to a new study made by a mix of British and Canadian researchers, pond snails find it hard to toughen up their memory when their stress levels are on a high, ABC Science wrote. The lead of the study, Dr Sarah Dalesman from the Exeter University said that among trained snails that went through their study, they discovered that any sole event that is stressful can impair their memory. However, when the stressful events come numerous, it is even capable of stopping the formation of memories.

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She added that their recent study can also be related to how human beings respond to stressful events and environments too. In short, the team of researchers finds their study as an ideal model system to look after in discovering how stress greatly affects the brain.

More Details Of The Study

According to Science Daily, there were around 300 snails used during the study which went through training which included the frequency of their breathing without water. It is the pond snails' characteristics to breathe in water through their skin and inhale air without water due to a breathing hole that is connected to their lung.

Dr Dalesman and the team trained them and observed how they will respond with high stress levels by putting them below water with poor oxygen levels. Once they rise up to get some air, the breathing holes are simply poked.

The memory of the tiny creatures were then tested with how often they would try to breathe right after the training sessions which lasted for 30 minutes or sometimes twice of this duration but along with an hour break.

At one point in the study, it can be perceived that just like that of the human beings, the brain of the snails respond to stress in a variety of ways.

The entire study is published in PLOS One.

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