Articles tagged with Memory
New research from the University of Mississippi suggests that storytelling is just as effective, and sometimes better, than survival processing in improving memory. By creating a narrative with unrelated nouns, participants were able to remember more than those who used survival processing or pleasantness processing.
A new study found that cannabis intoxication disrupts many types of memory, including verbal, visuospatial, and episodic content memory. Participants who consumed cannabis performed significantly worse than the placebo group on most measures, with significant differences appearing in 15 of the 21 tests.
A new study led by Dr. Shira Baror and Dr. Aya Ben-Yakov found that the brain's sense of continuity and segmentation are shaped by context in distinct ways. The researchers used three large-scale experiments involving 816 participants to investigate this fundamental question.
Researchers at EPFL's Brain Mind Institute have discovered that rejuvenating specific engram neurons can restore memory performance in multiple mouse settings. This approach uses a short pulse of genes to 'reprogram' these cells, bringing their functionality back to levels seen in young mice.
The FENS Forum 2026 will be Europe's largest neuroscience congress, covering areas of basic to translational research. Journalists can register for free and attend symposia and poster sessions.
Researchers discovered that while older rats were as social as younger ones, a subpopulation preferred familiar peers. Altering neural communication reversed this preference, enhancing approach towards new peers. This suggests a distinct neural system underlying aging-related social behavior.
Researchers at University College London discovered that Alzheimer's disease disrupts the brain's 'memory replay' process, leading to impaired navigation and memory loss. The study found that even when mice were resting, their brains replayed recent experiences in an altered pattern, which had consequences on memory tasks.
A new treatment combining cognitive and occupational therapy is being tested to improve stroke recovery, especially for rural patients. The 'cognition-first' approach tackles cognitive difficulties before physical rehabilitation, addressing a significant gap in existing treatments.
Researchers found no difference in neural activity between successful semantic and episodic retrieval, challenging long-standing research tradition. This overlap suggests that the whole brain is involved in different types of memory, potentially leading to new interventions for diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's.
Researchers observed episodic memory in rats, suggesting they can model complex cognitive processes. The study shows rats can recall memories with accuracy and context, even after a long delay, implying evolutionarily ancient forms of memory.
Scientists found that blocking microglia prevents infant forgetting and improves memory in mice, suggesting a role for microglia in memory formation. Microglia inhibition also enhances engram cell activation, providing a functional explanation for enhanced memory recall.
A new study finds that cognitive bias modification for memory (CBM-M) training reduces both psychological and physical stress by altering biased memory processing patterns. Participants showed reductions in anxiety and depressive traits, as well as improved mood and reduced cortisol levels.
Researchers at NUS Medicine have found a critical driver of neural stem cell function during ageing, called DMTF1. Restoring DMTF1 expression can restore neural stem cell regeneration capabilities in aged brain cells.
A new study published in Communications Psychology found that verbal justifications supporting memories remain rich, detailed, and consistent even after a delay of 24 hours. The study suggests that memory justifications provide a temporally stable window into episodic memory, making them a reliable basis for evaluating memory credibility.
A new study published in Neurology found that using hearing aids was associated with a lower risk of dementia but little impact on cognitive test scores among older adults with moderate hearing loss. The study suggests that hearing aid use may support brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment.
Researchers discovered that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate restores key memory-related brain functions disrupted in Alzheimer's disease. The molecule enhances synaptic plasticity, protects neurons from degenerative changes, and supports healthier cognitive ageing.
Scientists have observed changes in brain cells' signal transmission during learning processes, shedding light on the brain's adaptability. The study found that axon initial segments, responsible for generating electrical signals, can lengthen or shorten in response to experiences, influencing neuronal activity.
A new study published in Sleep Health found that the quality of a night's sleep, rather than its length, predicts how quickly older adults process information the next day. Researchers analyzed data from 261 participants aged 70 and above, who wore devices to track their sleep and completed cognitive assessments six times a day.
Scientists at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have identified a neural code that allows the brain to track distance traveled without visual cues. This ability is essential for navigation and memory formation, and may offer insight into early navigation problems in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that abundant mRNA molecules tend to cluster together in brain neurons, driven by chance overlap rather than coordinated movement. This discovery provides insights into how neurons manage genetic instructions and supports learning and memory, with potential implications for conditions like Fragile X syndrome.
The study demonstrates the auditory cortex's ability to integrate fine-scale and coarse-scale temporal cues during synchronization, with better performance in macaques compared to the middle glandular body. The nonlinguistic oddball paradigm shows promise for clinical applications in psychiatric disorders and future research should exp...
Researchers at Cornell University used optogenetics to boost large sharp-wave ripples in the brains of mice, improving their ability to remember new experiences. The technique showed promise in extending memory consolidation even in mice engineered to have cognitive deficits.
Researchers found that words with phonetically pleasing sound patterns are more memorable due to their aesthetic appeal. The study was supported by a grant from the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Austrian Science Fund.
Researchers identified a molecular mechanism linking early-life environments with memory by activating AP-1, which regulates genes involved in neuronal plasticity and learning. Early-life experiences produce long-lasting modulation of AP-1 activity, boosting gene networks that strengthen neuronal connections.
A collaboration between physics, neuroscience groups develops a unified model of memory and perception. The study suggests that distinct perceptual biases can be explained by a single biologically grounded mechanism, Hebbian learning.
Researchers have discovered a key role for the Frazzled protein in fruit fly neural circuits, revealing how it helps neurons form reliable connections. The study showed that when Frazzled is missing or mutated, neurons fail to form proper electrical connections, leading to communication breakdowns.
Researchers found that a rotating brain wave helps the cortex recover its computational path after a distraction, improving performance in visual working memory tasks. Longer time intervals between distractions also aid recovery.
Researchers develop CRISPR-based tools to epigenetically silence or boost memory gene Arc, demonstrating its direct impact on memory expression and storage. This breakthrough offers new avenues for exploring memory processing disorders in humans.
A new $2.9 million grant refines the LifeBio Memory app to enhance reminiscence therapy for dementia care, expanding to multiple languages and cultural contexts. The research aims to improve quality of life and relationships for both older adults and caregivers, using storytelling technology to reduce loneliness and depression.
Researchers at Virginia Tech found that adjusting molecular processes can improve memory in older subjects. They used CRISPR-dCas13 and CRISPR-dCas9 to target age-related changes in K63 polyubiquitination and IGF2, two genes linked to memory formation.
The team aims to build an anonymized database representative of the whole population by collecting two vivid memories from participants. The findings will inform new ways to help people remember in more detail and understand human memories across the lifespan.
A new MIT study found that a theta-frequency brain wave scans the mental image and a region of the cortex maps visual information. The researchers observed that performance depends on the phase of this wave when the changed square appears, and the vertical location on the screen of that target square.
A new study found that storytelling strategies with conceptual or perceptual details activate distinct brain networks, predicting how well participants recall core elements of the story. This suggests that people's preferred memory systems may vary across age groups, and tailored information could improve memory for older adults.
A new study published in JNeurosci used fMRI to investigate how the brain acquires semantic information. The results suggest that the quality of activity in distinct brain regions can predict whether people successfully acquire knowledge about places and characters in fictional civilizations.
Researchers have discovered that deep sleep plays a crucial role in controlling cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, which is essential for clearing waste from the brain. During slow-wave sleep, changes in cerebrospinal fluid signals are time-locked to slow brain waves and other neural events.
A new study reveals that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are responsible for stabilizing memories through repeated engagement. The researchers found that Fos activity in astrocytes only occurs during recall, and that these cells can be activated to produce stable memories.
Researchers found that Rab4 boosts neural connection strengthening while Rab10 decreases it, directing supplies to the surface of growing connections. This discovery may lead to new strategies for protecting memory in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Terrence Sejnowski, a renowned neuroscientist at Salk Institute, has been awarded the 2025 NIH Director's Pioneer Award to develop advanced computational techniques for analyzing working memory. His research aims to better understand and treat memory disorders in mental health conditions.
A study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that quitting smoking, even in the 50s or older, significantly reduces cognitive decline. Cognitive scores of quitters declined 20% less for memory and 50% less for verbal fluency over six years after cessation.
This study found that aged rats living in socially enriched environments retained better memory and cognitive flexibility than those housed alone. Socially housed rats showed increased activity in the hippocampus and reduced overactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex, suggesting a more balanced and efficient neural response.
Researchers discovered that adults can better access their early memories after embodying a childlike version of their own face. Participants who viewed their childlike faces recalled significantly more episodic childhood memories than those who saw their adult faces.
Researchers found that instructions improve recall more than emotional associations, but sleeping doesn't significantly impact memory. They discovered that sleep spindles are linked to better recall of negative words, while slow wave sleep negatively correlates with total recall.
Researchers found that students from low-income households, specifically boys, were the most affected by class closures, highlighting growing educational inequality. Smaller class sizes and experienced teachers can reduce adverse effects on disadvantaged students.
Researchers found that older mice showed less stable spatial memory and difficulty navigating between familiar and unfamiliar environments. In contrast, younger mice developed distinct firing patterns for each track, allowing them to remember hidden reward locations on alternating tracks with ease.
Researchers found that sentences with unique meanings are more likely to be remembered accurately due to their distinctiveness in the brain's memory space. Sentences with similar meanings can become densely packed, making it harder to recognize them confidently later on.
Florida Atlantic University has joined the Neuroarts Academic Network, a global initiative exploring how creative expression can improve brain health and transform care. The partnership aims to harness the power of aesthetic experiences to enhance brain function and support emotional well-being.
Researchers have found that tiny worms can help understand how memories fade, with dopamine playing a major role. Without dopamine, the worms held onto memories longer than usual, revealing that forgetting is a finely tuned process essential for staying focused and flexible.
Researchers found that recalling positive autobiographical memories before a performance enhances valence and arousal, leading to improved performance. This is attributed to increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which regulates involuntary bodily functions.
A growing number of U.S. adults are reporting serious challenges with memory, concentration, and decision-making, especially among younger adults, according to the study. Researchers found that rates of cognitive disability rose from 5.3% in 2013 to 7.4% in 2023, with the largest increase among adults under 40.
Researchers have created a magnetic transistor that can enable smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient circuits. The device uses chromium sulfur bromide as a magnetic semiconductor, allowing for efficient control of electricity flow.
Two researchers, Dr Anggi Hapsari and Dr Oliver Barnstedt, have been awarded ERC Starting Grants for their projects on the impact of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems and the neural mechanisms of memory formation in the mammillary body. The grants will fund five-year research projects exploring these topics.
Researchers developed a new tool to measure language learning strategies of Japanese university STEM students. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning-STEM (SILL-JP/STEM) assesses six categories of learning strategies, revealing insights into students' behaviors, including underutilized affective strategies.
Scientists Sharon Swanger and Shannon Farris study how mitochondria in vulnerable memory circuits become overloaded with calcium, contributing to early memory breakdowns. Their research aims to find early signs of stress or failure in the entorhinal cortex-hippocampus circuit.
A new study found that nearly three out of four adults suffer from dental fear, with 45.8% experiencing moderate fear and 26.8% severe fear. Most individuals interested in overcoming their fear are open to free, brief treatment options, such as virtual dental fear treatments using apps and telehealth.
Researchers found that paradise fish use a unique strategy called 'alternation' to investigate new areas, engaging working memory and previously thought to be characteristic mainly of mammals. Zebrafish and paradise fish provide complementary opportunities to study brain function.
Hyperthymesics possess extraordinary control over memories of life events, organizing them within a mental space for vivid recall. This ability allows for intense mental travel through time, with some individuals recalling details from different points of view.
A new study suggests that high-energy, less acoustic songs evoke memories of amusement and excitement, while lower-energy, more acoustic songs evoke memories of calmness, romance, and sadness. The researchers found that specific auditory features of music can predict certain qualities of autobiographical memories.
Aging is harsh on the hippocampus, a region responsible for learning and memory. Researchers at UCSF identified protein FTL1, which slows cognitive decline in mice by increasing metabolism. Treating with a compound that stimulates metabolism prevents these effects. The study offers hope for therapies to block FTL1's impact.
Researchers discovered that aging brains experience a leaky blood-brain barrier due to decreased levels of N-cadherin and occludin. This results in cognitive decline, starting as early as middle age. The study suggests a larger therapeutic window for treatment of age-related cognitive decline.
Research suggests that sleeping on a difficult task can improve performance by strengthening and consolidating memories in the brain. A new study found that rhythmic brain activity during sleep in areas active during training correlates with improved task performance after waking.