Articles tagged with Memory Consolidation
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A team of researchers at UC Riverside led by Sara C. Mednick found that the autonomic nervous system is responsible for promoting memory consolidation during sleep. They demonstrated a correlation between increased ANS activity and improved memory performance after a nap.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that glial energy metabolism plays a critical role in addiction-related behaviors. Researchers found that altering glial lactate release and nerve cell uptake of lactate prevented long-lasting relapse in rodents.
The study found that artificially applying synchronous slow wave brain activity during non-REM sleep can enhance memory consolidation, allowing mice to retain memories for up to 4 days. This discovery suggests a potential route to therapy using transcortical magnetic or direct-current stimulation to reactivate sleep-deprived neurons.
A study published in Science reveals that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation in mice. The research found that silencing neurons during REM sleep impaired spatial memory formation, suggesting a causal link between REM sleep and memory impairments observed in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at HRL Laboratories are developing a man-portable system using high-definition transcranial current stimulation (HD-tCS) to tag specific memories and skills during learning. The STAMP method aims to improve consolidation by reactivating neural representations during sleep.
A new study in mice shows that REM sleep is essential for consolidating both contextual and emotional memories. Inhibiting theta oscillations during REM sleep kept mice from forming these memories, while disrupting them outside of REM sleep had no effect.
Research at Gladstone Institutes found that the apoE4 protein disrupts brain activity in mice, impairing memory replay and consolidation. The study suggests that disrupted slow gamma activity during ripples is a major consequence of apoE4 expression, likely leading to impaired memory loss.
A study published in Nature Medicine suggests that brain signals between seizures may be responsible for memory problems in patients with epilepsy. Researchers found that abnormal hippocampal-cortical signaling in both rats and humans with epilepsy tracked closely with the level of memory impairment.
Memories formed in one part of the brain are replayed and transferred to another area for consolidation, according to a new UCL study. The process, essential for tackling Alzheimer's disease, involves the transfer of memories from the hippocampus to the entorhinal cortex.
During deep sleep, hippocampal sharp-wave ripples and cortical slow oscillations interact to strengthen synapses and form long-term memory. The study provides a mechanistic explanation for memory consolidation during deep sleep.
Scientists at Osaka University successfully reproduced long-lasting effects of stress on memory by using organotypic slice cultures. Stress interferes with memory consolidation, leading to formation inhibition.
During sleep, brain activity patterns from the day are replayed at fast-forward speed in the hippocampus, strengthening microscopic connections between nerve cells. This process is crucial for consolidating memories and retaining important information.
A new Rutgers University study found that instant messaging at night negatively impacts teenagers' sleep health and school performance. Students who messaged for less than 30 minutes after lights out performed significantly better academically.
A meta-analysis of structural MRI volumes found no significant difference in hippocampal size between men and women. The study challenges common claims about sex differences in the brain, citing minimal differences in key areas such as emotional expressiveness, verbal memory, and brain communication.
A University of Sussex study reveals that rehearsing information immediately after being given it strengthens memory, as the posterior cingulate region of the brain activates when laying down and rehearsing a memory. This area integrates episodic details into knowledge and understanding, making memories resistant to forgetting.
Researchers discovered that chronic stress strengthens traumatic memories in the brain, leading to PTSD. Blocking this process with serotonin-blocking drugs may offer a new treatment option for the disorder.
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that cortisol enhances the consolidation of emotional memories, particularly in individuals with anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Cortisol levels can strengthen memories of traumatic experiences during both initial formation and reconsolidation after memory retrieval.
A study suggests that sleep deprivation can prevent the consolidation of traumatic memories, reducing flashbacks. Participants who slept normally experienced more intrusive memories than those who were sleep-deprived.
A new study integrates neuroscience and psychology to reveal how sleep suppresses the activity of certain nerve cells that promote forgetting, ensuring at least some memories last. Sleep facilitates memory retention by blocking dopamine neuron-mediated forgetting, leading to more stable memories.
Research at UMass Amherst finds that despite concussion-related abnormalities in sleep and memory, sleep aids recall and benefits are comparable to those without TBI. Participants who slept showed better recall in word memorization tasks compared to those tested after an equal period awake.
Researchers at MIT have successfully reactivated lost memories in mice using optogenetics, revealing that memories are stored in a circuit of multiple brain areas and interconnected engram cells. This breakthrough challenges the long-held storage theory and proposes a new concept of memory consolidation.
Researchers discovered that memories can be retrieved by activating specific patterns of neurons with light, contradicting long-held assumptions about memory consolidation. This optogenetic approach may have implications for treating Alzheimer's disease and other forms of amnesia.
Researchers found that verbal updating reduced intrusive memories and distress by half compared to exposure groups. Updating also led to significant decreases in physical arousal when confronted with trauma reminders.
Researchers at Saarland University found that even brief power naps (45-60 minutes) can significantly improve retention of learned material in memory. Memory performance remained constant after sleeping, but participants recalled information better than those who didn't nap.
Research found that infant brain activity changes during sleep, forming categories and transferring learned names to similar objects. Infants who slept showed better categorization skills than those who stayed awake, suggesting a significant impact of sleep on memory consolidation.
Scientists have discovered that brain cells in flies regulate both sleep and memory consolidation through a complex interaction. When activated, these cells promote sleep, while deactivated cells enable learning and memory formation.
Infants who slept for at least half an hour within four hours of learning reproduced significantly more actions than those who did not sleep. Timely sleep facilitates declarative memory consolidation in infants, according to a study by Ruhr-University Bochum researchers.
A Penn-led team discovered that a specific set of cells in the brain are responsible for memory problems after sleep loss. By increasing levels of a signaling molecule, they prevented mice from having memory deficits.
A study found that brain mechanisms engaged during mental rest and reflection can strengthen memories of events and retention of information, leading to better future learning. Researchers used brain scans to show that participants who reflected on earlier learning tasks performed better on later tests.
A team of researchers will study the complex connections between brain cells that allow us to make and retrieve lasting memories. The project aims to build a complete computational model of a neural network in vertebrates using experimental data, with potential transformative insights into mammalian brain abilities.
Researchers at the University of Montreal found that sleep improves performance on piano tasks by increasing communication between subcortical brain regions. After a night of sleep, these regions function with greater synchrony, enabling better motor learning and memory consolidation.
Scientists at Yerkes National Primate Research Center have identified a new drug target for preventing PTSD. Osanetant, which targets the Tac2 gene, has been shown to reduce fear memory consolidation in mice.
Researchers at Salk Institute develop a new model of memory that explains how neurons retain select memories hours after an event. The framework bridges findings from both molecular and systems observations, predicting which memories are recorded based on spatial positioning of proteins.
The SHY hypothesis suggests that sleep weakens brain connections to conserve energy and avoid cellular stress. During wakefulness, learning strengthens synaptic connections, making them more susceptible to interference with new information.
A Northwestern University study found that fear memories can be reduced in people by exposing them to the memory over and over again while they slept. This breakthrough potentially offers a new way to enhance daytime treatment of phobias through exposure therapy with a nighttime component.
A team of neuroscientists found that better coordination between two brain regions is associated with less forgetting and longer-lasting memories. The study suggests that the brain strengthens memories by distributing them across networks, a process that takes time.
A new study by Brown University researchers found that sleep improves motor learning by changing fast-sigma and delta brainwave oscillations in the supplementary motor area. This reorganization is associated with improved speed and accuracy on sequential finger-tapping tasks after a few hours of sleep.
Researchers have identified a sleep mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate emotional memory and found that Ambien heightens recollection of and response to bad memories. This discovery has implications for individuals with anxiety disorders, such as PTSD, who are prescribed Ambien to help them sleep.
A team of researchers led by UC Riverside's Maxim Bazhenov is investigating the role of sleep in memory and learning with a $7.5 million grant from the Department of Defense. The study aims to explore the neural substrate for memory consolidation during sleep, which may improve human memory performance.
Research suggests that sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating emotional memories in healthy children but not those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Brain activity during sleep may exacerbate emotional problems in children with ADHD.
A new study found that pianists' performance improved after practicing a new melody followed by a night of sleep. However, gains in speed and accuracy declined when two similar melodies were practiced one after the other before sleep. Replaying the first melody before sleep seemed to counteract this interference and enhance skills.
A new study demonstrates that sleep consolidation helps retain both new memories, overcoming interference from learned tasks. Researchers measured starlings' ability to recognize new songs and found that a good night's sleep improves performance on previously learned tasks.
A study led by UC Riverside psychologist Sara C. Mednick has discovered a mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate memory during sleep. The research found that Ambien enhances this process, increasing verbal memory consolidation in healthy adults. This breakthrough could lead to new sleep therapies for aging adults and those wit...
A short burst of moderate exercise enhances memory consolidation in healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment. Exercise immediately after viewing pleasant images improved recall in both groups compared to those who did not exercise.
Researchers have developed a novel methodology called NET-fMRI to map widespread neural networks activated by local events. The study reveals that short periods of recurrent ripples in the brain are closely associated with reproducible cortical activations and extensive activity suppression in other brain structures.
A study by Menzel and colleagues found that sleep-deprived bees struggled to form new memories, particularly in navigating alternative routes. In contrast, well-rested bees easily learned new routes after being displaced from familiar paths.
Swedish researchers at Uppsala University have discovered a new group of nerve cells called OLM-alpha2 cells that act as gatekeepers in the hippocampus. These cells prioritize local circuit signals, altering memory formation when activated by nicotine or light stimulation.
Researchers measured brain activity during sleep and found the entorhinal cortex shows persistent activity, behaving as if it's remembering something. This challenges conventional theories about memory consolidation during sleep.
Researchers found that a specific flavonoid in dark chocolate enhances the memories of pond snails, allowing them to learn and retain information more effectively. The study suggests that this compound may have potential cognitive benefits for humans as well, potentially improving learning and memory retention.
Researchers at Uppsala University found that newly formed emotional memories can be erased from the brain by disrupting the reconsolidation process. This breakthrough may lead to improved treatments for anxiety disorders such as phobias and post-traumatic stress.
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.
Researchers have identified two dopamine receptors, dDA1 and DAMB, that play a crucial role in regulating memory formation and forgetting. The study found that the dDA1 receptor is essential for memory acquisition, while the DAMB receptor triggers forgetting of recently acquired but not yet consolidated memories.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that sleep disturbances significantly impair the overnight improvement and plateau performance of motor tasks in patients with sleep apnea. The authors concluded that optimal memory consolidation requires continuous sleep, independent of the total amount of sleep.
A new study published in Neuron found that a larger posterior hippocampus and smaller anterior hippocampus are linked to better recollection ability in healthy adults. The researchers suggest that functional connections between the posterior hippocampus and other brain regions play a key role in enhanced memory consolidation.
A study published in European Neuropsychopharmacology found that administering a single dose of cortisone up to six hours after traumatic event reduces the likelihood of developing PTSD by 60%. This natural approach may circumvent the harm caused by other pharmaceuticals and prevent the consolidation of traumatic memories.
A new study by University of Bristol researchers has identified a mechanism in the brain that explains why people form long-lasting memories of stressful events. The discovery could lead to new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other stress-related psychiatric disorders.
A team of researchers found that half of all learned insights are consolidated in our memories, and the amygdala plays a crucial role in this process. The study used camouflage images to induce sudden insight, and participants' ability to identify the images was predicted by amygdala activity.
Researchers found that half of learned insights are consolidated in memories within a week, while others fade over time. The amygdala, associated with emotion, is activated during insight moments and predicts ability to recall degraded images.
A research study published in Nature found that IGF-II protein increases in the brain of rats after a learning session, reinforcing memory and preventing forgetfulness. The protein is essential for memory formation and consolidation, making it a potential target for therapies enhancing cognitive function.
Researchers found that inhibiting protein synthesis affects memory consolidation, but not reconsolidation. This discovery highlights the challenges in understanding and addressing memory-related disorders like PTSD.