One gene appears to regulate the brain’s ability to form new memories

Long term memory formation presumably involves protein synthesis, which depends on a number of transcription factors and other molecules. Up until now the most studied transcription factor is CREB, which has been shown to enhance, inhibit, and direct memory in cells, depending on the manipulation. They now identify one gene, but it's not the only one; there's probably many other factors, proteins and second messengers involved. Similar results of npas4 knockout have been reported in the amygdala: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjourna...