Articles tagged with Memory Consolidation
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Scientists at Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that traumatic memories can be erased in Drosophila flies when exposed to environmental light. The team identified the molecular mechanism responsible for this effect, which involves the regulation of proteins in the brain.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Weizmann Institute of Science developed a new sleep method that uses smell to strengthen memory retention in the brain. The technique, which administers a specific scent to one nostril, has shown promise in boosting memory consolidation during sleep.
Astrocytes support memory function through distinct molecular pathways triggered by norepinephrine release. Norepinephrine promotes synaptic plasticity and energy metabolism for memory consolidation.
Researchers at HRL Laboratories found that targeted transcranial electrical stimulation during slow-wave sleep can improve metamemories of specific episodes by nearly 20% after just one viewing. This non-invasive approach may benefit patients with learning and memory deficits, as well as those with PTSD.
A study from Scripps Research reveals that memories are stored in two forms: intermediate-term memory and protein-synthesis dependent long-term memory. Silencing specific genes, Ras and Raf, enhances intermediate-term memories while eliminating long-term memory performance.
Experiments in rodents reveal engrams exist as multiscale networks of neurons, forming complex networks for memory storage. Engram cells can be manipulated through synaptic plasticity and dendritic spine formation, allowing for the retrieval and persistence of memories.
A team at RIKEN Center for Brain Science analyzed mouse brain activity using machine-learning algorithms, identifying distinct brain waves for recent and remote memories. They found a strong link between the frontal brain region and hippocampus, suggesting a possible mechanism to track memory age.
Researchers found that slow-wave sleep triggers waves of cerebrospinal fluid that flush out toxic metabolic waste products from the brain. This process supports memory processing and consolidation, and may be crucial for preventing neurodegeneration and diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers found that inhibiting somatosensory cortex disrupts retention of motor memories, while motor cortex inhibition has no effect. This discovery sheds light on the consolidation process of motor skills and may have implications for rehabilitation and re-learning after injury.
A new UCL study has found that a period of rest following a traumatic event can reduce the development of involuntary 'memory intrusions' in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study suggests that increasing memory consolidation, which involves storing and contextualizing memories, may help prevent these disturbances.
A new study by UC San Francisco researchers reveals that two distinct types of slow brain waves, slow oscillations and delta waves, compete to determine whether new information is consolidated or forgotten. Disrupting one type of wave enhances memory retention, while disrupting the other leads to forgetting.
A study suggests that REM sleep may prevent information overload by actively forgetting new, possibly unimportant information. Researchers found that MCH neurons in the brain play a role in controlling memory consolidation and preventing dream content from being stored.
The study reveals that engram sub-ensembles represent distinct pieces of information, which are then orchestrated to constitute an entire memory. During post-learning sleep, replayed sub-ensembles are more likely to be reactivated during retrieval, indicating a key role in memory consolidation.
Drosophila melanogaster forms a stable long-term memory for its body size and reach after hatching from the pupal case. The insects learn to estimate distance across gaps by linking visual information with their body size, retaining this knowledge for life.
A small pilot study found that sound stimulation played during specific times of deep sleep enhanced slow-wave sleep in people with mild cognitive impairment. Participants who showed the greatest improvement in deep sleep also recalled more words on a memory test the next morning.
A breakthrough study reveals the anterior cingulate cortex plays a crucial role in synchronizing brain waves to retrieve long-term memories after two weeks. This discovery could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia by understanding how our brains process and access older memories.
Brown University researchers discovered that unexpectedly good outcomes enhance the memory of specific events, which may have implications for treating individuals with depression. The study found that participants were better at remembering specific images from rounds where they had a high likelihood of winning.
Studies in rats reveal that highly demanding and rewarding experiences result in stronger memories due to replay processes in the hippocampus. This finding provides new insights into memory consolidation, which could lead to treatments that strengthen memories and better understand memory decline in diseases like dementia.
A recent NIH study suggests that taking short breaks can strengthen memories of new skills by solidifying them in the brain. Researchers found that volunteers' performance improved primarily during rest periods and not during practice, with gains correlating to changes in brain wave patterns.
A study found that administering propofol to humans immediately after reactivating a traumatic memory weakened its emotional strength. The results suggest a potential, noninvasive approach for treating anxiety and stress-related disorders.
Two studies, one in young adults and the other in mice, found that rocking during sleep leads to better sleep quality, faster falling asleep, and improved memory consolidation. The researchers discovered that rhythmic stimulation of the vestibular system plays a key role in this phenomenon.
Researchers from UNIGE, HUG, and UNIL demonstrate that slow and repeated movement during sleep modulates brain wave activity, leading to improved deep sleep and memory consolidation. Rocking has been shown to synchronize brain waves and reinforce deep sleep, with benefits also observed in mice studies.
A study published in eNeuro found that neurons in the hippocampus inhibit future eating behavior by consolidating memories of preceding meals. The findings suggest that techniques promoting hippocampal-dependent memories could be promising strategies for reducing eating and promoting weight loss.
Researchers observed newborn rats navigating environments to understand brain development of episodic memory. The hippocampus plays a critical role in turning experiences into memories.
Researchers studied activity sequences in rats' place cells to understand memory consolidation. They found that nested theta sequences during movement are indispensable for sequence reactivations and memory formation during sleep.
A Kent State University researcher is using a $450,000 NIH grant to study how we create deeply ingrained fear memories and how to block them. He aims to target the amygdala's microglia cells, which produce cytokines associated with chronic anxiety and depression.
A recent study published in JNeurosci found that nose breathing enhances memory consolidation. Researchers compared the effects of nose and mouth breathing during a one-hour consolidation period after participants were exposed to various odors. Nose breathers showed increased odor recognition, suggesting that nose breathing may facilit...
Researchers found that homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) facilitates Hebbian plasticity, enhancing memory formation and learning. HSP helps maintain a stable level of activity in synapses, allowing the brain to store information while keeping it accessible.
A novel mechanism links epigenetic changes to translational control in the brain, controlling downstream regulation of translation during fear memory reconsolidation. This finding may help attenuate maladaptive memories in psychiatric disorders.
A new study suggests that graphic images on cigarette warnings are more effective in reducing smoking rates than text-only warnings. The study found that smokers who viewed graphic images remembered the warnings slightly longer than those who received text-only warnings, and were more likely to quit smoking six weeks later.
Research by neuroscientists at UMass Amherst found that naps and overnight sleep work together to benefit memory in young children. Naps contribute to emotion processing in preschoolers, which is consistent with parents' observations, but the benefits are delayed.
Researchers at HRL Laboratories developed a novel system that uses closed-loop electrical brain stimulation to improve memory retention. The technique, which matches transcranial alternating current stimulation with the brain's slow-wave oscillations during sleep, enhances learning and skill acquisition by about 48%. This study offers ...
Researchers have found that non-invasive brain stimulation during sleep can improve memory consolidation and generalization. The study used a closed-loop transcranial alternating current stimulation system to synchronize brain activity during slow-wave oscillations, leading to enhanced performance in detecting targets in novel situations.
A study at McGill University found that just 15 minutes of exercise increases brain connectivity and efficiency, leading to better long-term retention of new motor skills. The research suggests that this optimal brain state can be accelerated through exercise and may have implications for recovery from stroke or injury.
Researchers discovered that visual perceptual learning can undergo reconsolidation, with a reconsolidation window closing before 3.5 hours after initial recall. The study also found similarities between consolidation and reconsolidation processes in the brain.
Researchers at Japan's University of Tsukuba found that phosphoproteins accumulate when mice are awake and dissipate during sleep. The study identified 80 proteins, dubbed the Sleep-Need-Index-PhosphoProteins (SNIPPs), which change their phosphorylation state along with sleep need.
Researchers discovered that a gene associated with human intellectual ability is necessary for normal memory formation in mice. Mice with the gene deletion replay shorter fragments of their previous experiences during periods of rest, impairing their ability to consolidate memories.
Two new Collaborative Research Centers at Charité will investigate the use of diagnostic imaging technology to visualize pathological changes in the extracellular matrix. This research may contribute to the early detection of diseases and improve therapy monitoring. The centers aim to uncover new insights into memory consolidation and ...
The DFG is supporting top-level research at German universities with 14 new CRCs, covering topics like life emergence and hearing acoustics. The programme aims to improve understanding of diseases through innovative research projects.
Researchers found that sleep spindles facilitate processing of relevant memory features during sleep and boost memory consolidation. The study suggests that inducing sleep spindles may help improve memory performance while sleeping.
Scientists have demonstrated that a specific pattern of brain activity, known as sleep spindles, supports the reactivation process during sleep. By analyzing brain signals associated with reactivated memories, researchers were able to decode their content in real-time.
Researchers have identified a neural mechanism that allows us to segment our experience into discrete memory units, which are then stored in long-term memory. This process involves the identification of boundary events, which trigger the reactivation of memories and enable the formation of prediction models.
Researchers suggest existing models of memory formation should be revised due to existence of 'silent engrams' which store memories even when they cannot be retrieved through natural cues. Memories are stored in a specific pattern of connections that form between cells during the first few minutes after an event occurs.
A UCL study in rats reveals that the brain rapidly switches between operational modes in response to tasks and replays. The researchers found that it only takes 10-15 seconds for the brain to switch from a mode supporting planning to one supporting memory consolidation.
A researcher is investigating whether mid-day napping benefits learning in young children and helps them cope with emotions. The study will explore the mechanisms of sleep and its effects on cognitive functions, emotion processing, and behavior.
Studies show that humans can learn new sounds while asleep, particularly during REM and N2 sleep phases. However, learned sounds are forgotten in deep sleep (N3) stage, suggesting a mechanism for unloading unnecessary memories. These findings reconcile two theories on sleep's role in memory consolidation.
A University of Exeter study found that drinking alcohol boosts memory recall for information learned before the drinking episode began. Those who consumed more alcohol showed stronger effects on memory performance.
Researchers have identified a new brain mechanism that contributes to learning an association between an auditory warning and a fearful event. Changes in lattice-like structures in the brain known as perineuronal nets are necessary to capture and consolidate the fear association, which can aid research into combating PTSD.
Researchers have developed a new technique to isolate neuronal activity during memory consolidation, revealing that individual hippocampal neurons respond selectively to specific memories. This study provides insight into the neural mechanisms of memory formation and its potential link to brain diseases like epilepsy.
A multi-university study aims to create a computer model of how the brain forms, stores and retrieves complex memories. The goal is to have human-like abilities to remember, understand and learn from events.
Researchers discovered that memories are formed simultaneously in the hippocampus and long-term storage location in the cortex. Traces of memories remain in the hippocampus for two weeks before becoming mature, challenging standard models of memory consolidation.
A new study from Northwestern University finds that sound wave stimulation synchronized to brain waves triples memory scores in older adults and enhances deep sleep. The technique, which uses real-time brain wave analysis, shows promise as a non-meditation approach to improving brain health.
Researchers found that synaptic inhibition dominated over excitation during SWR generation and was responsible for the oscillation. PV+ interneurons played a key role in generating SWRs, suggesting that inhibition is crucial for making memories permanent.
Researchers at Bar-Ilan University discovered that the brain temporarily blocks new memory formation upon waking to prevent disruption of memory consolidation during sleep. This process involves a protein synthesis-dependent mechanism that inhibits learning just after awakening.
A neuroscientist is studying the link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse to identify potential treatments. The researcher hopes to pinpoint brain areas involved in processing fear memories and develop methods to break the cycle of dependency.
Sleeping brain waves form associations between memory components, enabling long-term memory consolidation. Researchers discovered 'Princess Leia' oscillations in the neocortex, peaking in one area and then adjacent areas, facilitating neuronal communication and memory linking.
A new mathematical model has successfully reproduced complex brain activity during deep sleep, revealing its role in memory consolidation. The thalamocortical coupling is crucial for this process, according to the researchers.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine used transcranial alternating current stimulation to target sleep spindles and strengthen memory in healthy individuals. The study found significant improvements in motor tasks but no improvement in associative word-pairing tests.
A new study suggests that physical exercise after learning improves memory consolidation, particularly when done in a specific time window. The researchers found that exercising four hours after learning retained the information better two days later than those who exercised immediately or not at all.
Researchers from IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute have found that combining a positive emotional component with a given stimulus promotes memory for future stimuli of the same type. This effect is observed until after 24 hours of sleep, when memory consolidation is maximized.