Scientists have successfully spliced a human brain gene into mice's own, enhancing their learning ability.

The gene spliced into the mice is called the Foxp2, a gene that is linked to speech and language. The scientists wanted to isolate this specific gene in order to understand its inner workings.

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Hundreds of mice were used for this study, partially because in a study in 2009, the mice developed more complex neurons and more efficient brain circuits.

As was standard, the scientists still used the piece of cheese at the end of a maze in order to measure their learning ability.

In this new test, they found that the mice were finding the food through the maze with much faster times than normal.

The test was created by neuroscientists Christiane Schreiweis and Ann Graybiel. Instead of a piece of cheese though, they used chocolate.

Their maze gave mice two options: to use landmarks from the pieces of laboratory equipment lying around the room, or by feeling the floor.

Normal mice learned and memorized the routes in 11 days, while the mice with Foxp2 only took seven days.

However, when the scientists removed all landmarks, both types of mice did well.

The scientists found out from the experiment that the Foxp2 gene increases cognitive flexibility. This flexibility allows the brain to switch on the fly from remembering consciously to unconsciously.

The mice exhibited the unconscious learning when there were no more obstacles, turning when they knew it was right.

This fact allows for scientists to better understand how the gene Foxp2's role In language and speech.

TagsFoxp2, Mice, Maze, Enhanced Learning