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Happy notes, happy memories

Researchers found that musical cues with high arousal and positive emotion triggered the recall of clear, vivid memories, while those with negative emotions led to less specific recollections. The study's findings suggest that emotional content of musical cues influences the type of memories accessed.

SourceSpringer·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateFeb 28, 2017

Scientists reveal how the brain maintains useful memories

Scientists have identified specific groups of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex that develop codes to store relevant information from multiple experiences. Over time, these neurons lose less important details unique to each experience. The findings provide new insight into how the brain collects and stores useful knowledge.

SourceeLife·DateFeb 14, 2017

Orientation without a master plan

Studies show that when learning objects in an open space, spatial memory is accessed step-by-step, while environmental spaces require more time to recall objects from neighboring corridors. This research has implications for understanding navigation and the neuronal basis of wayfinding.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCognition·DateSep 6, 2016

How sleep deprivation harms memory

Researchers discover that five hours of sleep deprivation leads to a loss of connectivity between neurons in the hippocampus, a region associated with learning and memory. However, blocking the protein cofilin and allowing recovery sleep restores neuronal connections and improves memory processes.

SourceeLife·DateAug 23, 2016

Middle-age memory decline a matter of changing focus

Researchers found that middle-aged adults activated the medial prefrontal cortex instead of the visual cortex when recalling details, suggesting a change in what information they prioritize as they age. This shift may be beneficial for daily life tasks but could impact memory performance if not adapted to.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuroImage·DateJul 12, 2016

Research reveals pain and pleasure of sad music

A study of 2,436 people found that listening to sad music can lead to feelings of pleasure, comfort, and relief, but also painful experiences related to personal loss. The research has implications for music therapy and rehabilitation, highlighting the complexity of human emotions in response to sad music.

SourceDurham University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 14, 2016

Why bad experiences are remembered out of context

A new UCL study found that bad experiences are strongly remembered, but surrounding context is weakly recalled due to reduced activity in the hippocampus. This imbalance can lead to strong but fragmented memory for traumatic content, contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateMay 10, 2016

A new-structure magnetic memory device developed

A new-structure magnetic memory device utilizing spin-orbit-torque-induced magnetization switching has been successfully developed by Tohoku University researchers. The device boasts ultrafast magnetization reversal timescales and potential benefits for power-efficient integrated circuits.

SourceTohoku University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 22, 2016

Repeating aloud to another person boosts recall

A study by Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal found that repeating aloud boosts verbal memory, especially when done in a context of communication. The research showed that repeating aloud to someone else increased information recall compared to repeating silently or in one's head.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalConsciousness and Cognition·DateOct 6, 2015

Team advances therapy preventing addiction relapse by erasing drug-associated memories

Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute have developed a new therapy that selectively erases drug-associated memories, preventing relapse in animal models of methamphetamine addiction. The treatment, which involves a single injection of blebbistatin, successfully disrupted long-term storage of drug-related memories and blocked r...

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateAug 4, 2015

Researchers retrieve 'lost' memories

Researchers from the RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics demonstrated that traces of old memories remain in the amnestic brain and can be reactivated, allowing lost memories to be found. The study suggests that past memories may not be erased but lost and inaccessible for recall.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience·DateMay 28, 2015

Researchers create artificial link between unrelated memories

In a groundbreaking study, researchers used optogenetics to artificially associate the memory of a foot shock with an unrelated environment, triggering increased fear-related behavior. The findings suggest that co-activated cell ensembles can link two distinct memories, paving the way for new treatments of psychiatric disorders.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateApr 2, 2015