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Future computers that are 'normally off'

A research team in Japan has developed a spintronics-based technology that could replace volatile memory, enabling extremely energy-efficient devices powered by hand-crank or solar panels. The technology uses non-volatile function of advanced spin-transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) to create 'normally off'...

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateApr 8, 2014

Islands in the brain: New circuit shapes memory formation

Researchers discovered a new brain circuit that shapes memory formation by endowing neurons with the ability to connect two events separated in time into a single experience. Island cells, found in the entorhinal cortex, project to the hippocampus and suppress the formation of temporal associations.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience·DateJan 23, 2014

Educated black men remembered as 'whiter'

Researchers discovered a skin tone memory bias where educated Black men are perceived as lighter-skinned, violating the stereotype of darker skin tones being more aggressive. This phenomenon distorts memory and reinforces existing cultural beliefs about race and intelligence.

SourceSAGE·JournalSAGE Open·DateJan 14, 2014

LSU psychologist discovers intricacies about lying

A new study by LSU Associate Professor Sean Lane explores the cognitive machinery of lies, revealing that false descriptions are more accessible and durable in our memories due to the effort required to make them up. This finding has implications for police interrogation methods and forensic techniques.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalJournal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition·DateSep 4, 2013

Research identifies a way to block memories associated with PTSD or drug addiction

Researchers at Western University identified a common mechanism in the pre-limbic cortex to control recall of memories linked to aversive experiences in PTSD and rewarding memories in drug addiction. Stimulating a specific dopamine receptor subtype can prevent spontaneous recall of both types of memories without altering their integrity.

SourceUniversity of Western Ontario·JournalNeuropharmacology·DateDec 5, 2012

Your memory is like the telephone game

A study by Northwestern University found that human memories adapt and change with each retelling, leading to distorted recall. The research used a telephone game-like scenario where participants recalled object locations, showing improved recall accuracy on the final test for objects tested on day two but never exactly right.

Parasitic wasps remember better if reward is greater

Two parasitic wasp species show similar memory consolidation patterns when rewarded with different qualities. This suggests that higher rewards lead to better memory retention. The researchers propose that this behavior makes sense given the energetic cost of consolidating shorter-lasting memories into long-term ones.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 22, 2012

When we forget to remember -- failures in prospective memory range from annoying to lethal

Research on prospective memory reveals that failures occur when we form intentions but lose focus due to interruptions or multitasking. Habital tasks can also lead to implicit intentions, making it harder to remember them. To defend against these failures, professionals use memory tools like checklists and implementation intentions.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateJul 31, 2012

Why does vivid memory 'feel so real?'

Researchers found that vivid memory and real perceptual experience share striking similarities at the neural level, but not in every detail. The study used fMRI to analyze brain activity while participants watched video clips and then recalled them, finding a 91% match in sensory and motor areas of the cerebral cortex.

SourceBaycrest Centre for Geriatric Care·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·DateJul 23, 2012

Learn that tune while fast asleep

Researchers found that stimulating a musical tune during slow-wave sleep improved memory for complex skills. Participants made fewer errors when pressed keys to produce the melody presented while they slept compared to the other melody. The study opens doors for future studies on sleep-based memory processing.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 24, 2012

Memory, judgment, and neuroeconomics -- News tips from Current Directions in Psychological Science

Recent studies in Current Directions in Psychological Science investigate the role of retrieval-based learning, attention to information in working memory, accurate personality judgment, and the use of neuroeconomic games to examine social decision making in children with externalizing disorders. These findings provide insights into th...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateJun 5, 2012

Preventing dementia

Researchers at UBC and VCH found that a senior's exercise program using resistance-training can improve executive cognitive functions, associative memory, and brain plasticity. The study suggests that resistance training can be an effective prevention strategy for dementia.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateApr 23, 2012