Researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences CSIC-UMH identified a mechanism to balance memory flexibility and stability by regulating inhibitory interneuron activity in the hippocampus. Lower inhibitory activity increased sensitivity to changes, while higher activity maintained consistent representations.
A study by Penn State researchers found that people who aged faster during midlife were more likely to experience memory lapses a decade later. The study, which analyzed data from 232 individuals, found that those who were aging rapidly were 18% more likely to experience a prospective memory lapse on any given day.
A recent study from Georgetown University and the University of Washington suggests AI-generated summaries can manipulate people's memory, even when accuracy is assured. Participants who read misleading AI summaries were significantly less likely to accurately recall the original event, according to the study.
A new study by UC Riverside scientists has identified MAPK14, a brain protein, as the driving force behind neuroHIV damage, which causes dementia, neuropathy, and memory problems. By targeting this protein, researchers hope to develop a treatment for neuroHIV, a condition affecting millions worldwide.
A new UCLA study has found a connection between brain aging and gut biology, suggesting that people's brains may be aging decades before symptoms appear. The study, published in eBioMedicine, analyzed brain scans and stool samples to identify a link between brain communication patterns, gut bacteria, and brain aging.
Researchers at MIT found that short bursts of pink noise during sleep can increase the amplitude of slow electrical waves and CSF flow, leading to more restorative sleep. This technology may also help clear brain waste and potentially improve cognitive function, particularly in people with insomnia and neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study used neural networks to reveal how different kinds of training can change how learning happens. Training a simpler task first made neural networks respond more accurately to complex tasks, mirroring how living brains learn.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that memory shifts as we age, with declines in accuracy from the 20- to 30-year-old age group to people in their 50s. Hippocampal processes start to decline by midlife, making middle age a transition point for memory formation.
Researchers found that theta oscillations during learning predicted which experiences were remembered after sleep, and this pattern was associated with better memory performance. The study suggests that the brain may use theta oscillations to 'tag' experiences for later memory consolidation during sleep.
Researchers at the University of York have uncovered the neural mechanism that instructs the brain to prioritize and strengthen important memories during sleep. This 'tagging' mechanism, linked to a specific brainwave pattern, helps the brain filter out irrelevant details and retain key experiences.
Research identifies aberrant ERBB4 expression in excitatory neurons as an early driver of Alzheimer's disease pathologies, including neuronal hyperactivity, synapse loss, and cognitive decline. Manipulating ERBB4 expression in mouse models reveals its role in driving disease features, including reactive gliosis and amyloid buildup.
A new study reveals how memories change with age, with older adults struggling to recall specific details and general knowledge becoming more prominent. The research highlights the importance of understanding how memory evolves over a lifetime, shedding light on how to support healthy cognitive ageing.
Researchers suggest that biological memory is connected to emotion and thought, and that AI may lack the biological infrastructure to replicate human-like consciousness. The study proposes a biochemical process connecting brain cells and chemistry to memory, potentially offering a new route to understanding mental processes.
Neuroscientists have identified flexible modules in the prefrontal cortex that can be reused to perform various tasks. The discovery supports the theory of compositionality, where cognitive building blocks can be flexibly combined to generate new behaviors.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that taking screenshots can degrade memory of information, contrary to the assumption that photos aid recall. They suggest attentional disengagement and cognitive offloading as possible mechanisms behind digital amnesia.
Researchers at MIT have created a new microscope that can image electrical activity in neurons distributed across the brain, revealing patterns of neural activity from milliseconds. The technique enabled observation of single voltage spikes and rapid bursts of spikes, shedding light on how the brain is activated following a stimulus.
Researchers challenge traditional assumptions on synaptic potentiation and instead identify clustered patterns of connections as crucial for retaining long-term memories. Through artificial hibernation techniques, they discovered that small clusters of engram-engram synapses are preserved to enable accurate recall.
An international study of 974 participants aged 50-94 found a strong correlation between ageist attitudes and self-reported memory failures. The results indicate that individuals with more restrictive views on older adult behavior experienced greater memory problems, regardless of their country of origin.
Researchers at Penn State have created a material memory system where two types of memory coexist and compete. At lower intensities, the mixture retains both directional and amplitude memories. However, as intensity increases, one memory weakens and is eventually erased, while the other becomes dominant.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine identified a biological process that sheds new light on how memory circuits mature during late adolescence. The study found that memories formed earlier in life become temporarily difficult to retrieve before resurfacing later with less precise detail.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
Researchers have developed a new version of the Daydreaming algorithm, which combines learning and cleaning to improve artificial memory systems' reliability even with biased data. The algorithm focuses on differences between pixels, allowing it to work effectively with strongly biased data, similar to real-world conditions.
The University of Cincinnati launches the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research (CANDR) to improve dementia prevention and treatment outcomes. CANDR aligns with UC's mission to innovate and engage locally while addressing one of the region's most pressing public health challenges.
Researchers discovered astrocytes actively preserve long-term memories by regulating Ank2 and BDNF signaling. This finding expands the understanding of how memories are stored in the brain.
Researchers have identified an experimental molecule called OLE that can restore part of the brain's protective function against Alzheimer's disease. The compound helps microglia enclose and contain beta-amyloid plaques, reducing their size and toxicity.
Childhood maltreatment alters fear-related brain function and systemic inflammation, modulating their connection. The timing and type of abuse or neglect shape this link, with early trauma affecting threat-regional brain areas and late trauma impacting regulatory brain regions.
By inducing rhythmic on-and-off activity in small portions of the brain, researchers triggered a recalibration of neural connections that normally only occurs during sleep. This approach offset the effects of sleep deprivation and revealed features of sleep key to its restorative effect, including improved tactile memory tasks.
A recent study in mice reveals a shared hub of memory cells that links incoming and outgoing signals, allowing the brain to reuse some cells to store many different memories. This 'switchboard' helps maintain stability while learning new information.
A new study by researchers at UC Davis Health and Kaiser Permanente found that long-term exposure to fine air pollution particles (PM2.5) is associated with lower semantic memory, a type of brain's encyclopedia. The study analyzed data from 740 adults aged 53-94 and found no impact on executive function or verbal episodic memory.
Researchers have identified an experimental molecule called OLE that helps restore microglia's protective function against Alzheimer's disease. The compound reduces beta-amyloid plaque size and toxicity, improving cognitive performance in memory tests.
Researchers at UCLA Health have identified a brain region called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) that regulates memory integration. The vmPFC acts as a quality control checkpoint, preventing memories from getting mixed up when they are significantly different or far apart in time.
A new preclinical study finds that estrogen loss in the extracellular matrix of the hippocampus may contribute to memory decline and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in postmenopausal women. The study suggests a possible new treatment approach focused on restoring the brain's supportive environment.
A cohort study found that participants with unfavorable long-term memory trajectories were less active and more sedentary, suggesting a link between cognitive change and later-life movement patterns. The study's results have implications for understanding the relationship between aging, cognition, and physical activity.
Research suggests that switching to a nutritious diet can improve memory, but does not fully reverse cognitive deficits and impairment caused by high sugar intake. Diets high in added sugar show little evidence of recovery, highlighting the potential detrimental effects on brain health.
A new study by Tohoku University researchers has identified dopamine dysfunction as a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease. The discovery may lead to the development of targeted therapies to restore cognitive function and potentially reverse cognitive decline.
A post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial found high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in pregnancy to be positively associated with visual memory, verbal memory, and flexibility among offspring at age 10. This strengthens evidence on the association between prenatal vitamin D exposure and childhood cognition.
Researchers discovered that interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) occur in a predictable pattern, unfolding sequentially in individual neurons. Nearly 80% of IED-involving neurons are also involved in language and perception, suggesting the brain blips can derail cognition.
Researchers found that women with prediabetes had persistent changes in gene expression in fat tissue after bariatric surgery, leading to impaired lipid metabolism and greater weight regain. Despite clinical improvement, these molecular alterations may reduce the ability of adipose tissue to adapt after weight loss.
A study found that young adults' memories of their drinking habits may not accurately reflect their daily experiences, highlighting the need for new assessment strategies. Real-time measurements of alcohol use disorder symptoms provide more detailed insights than traditional retrospective self-reports.
Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.
A major European study found that loneliness affects the memory of older adults, but does not speed up mental decline over time. Participants who reported high levels of loneliness performed worse on initial memory tests, but their ability to recall information declined at a similar rate as those with lower loneliness levels.
Researchers developed a nasal spray that reversibly reduces brain inflammation, restores cellular power plants, and improves memory. The treatment bypasses the brain's protective shield through intranasal delivery, suppressing chronic inflammation and promoting successful brain aging.
Researchers analyzed brain interactions to explain attention, decision-making, and memory. Models with competitive interactions outperform cooperative ones, enabling flexible activation of regions and intelligent behavior. This breakthrough brings us closer to creating realistic digital twins of the human brain for personalized medicine.
The research team will analyze mouse models and human brain tissue to identify cell types that show early signs of stress before neurons die. The multiscale model simulates how the progressive loss or disconnection of specific neurons disrupts memory-related brain networks.
A recent study led by Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University found that the same brain neurons are activated when people perceive and imagine objects. The research provides a detailed understanding of the neural mechanism underlying visual perception and creation of mental images in the human brain.
A Northwestern University study found that imagination is not just a copy of sensation, but emerges at later stages of processing when the brain represents information holistically. The researchers mapped brain activity during imagination and perception, finding overlap in higher-level association areas.
Researchers discovered that mild hypoxia shortly after birth hinders learning and memory into adulthood through altered neuron-to-neuron communication in the hippocampus. The study also found a second protein involved in hypoxia's effects on this channel's functioning, which was restored when targeted.
A NUS Medicine study reveals that caffeine can restore social memory impaired by sleep deprivation. Caffeine targets a specific brain pathway to reverse disruptions in neural communication and plasticity. The study provides insights into the effects of caffeine on cognitive function and 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.