Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Forgetting is actively regulated

A team of scientists has found a molecule that actively regulates memory loss, revealing the process of forgetting is not passive but rather an active process. The discovery could lead to new treatments for mental disorders such as Alzheimer's.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalCell·DateMar 13, 2014

Outside the body our memories fail us

Studies show that when participants experience an 'out-of-body' illusion, their memories are fragmented and stored improperly. The research suggests a close relationship between body experience and memory, with implications for understanding psychiatric conditions such as PTSD and schizophrenia.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 10, 2014

Gender influences symptoms of genetic disorder

A new study reveals that girls with NF1 are at greater risk of vision loss from brain tumors, while boys are more vulnerable to learning disabilities. The research identifies gender-linked differences in male mice that may help explain these findings.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateFeb 6, 2014

Infections damage our ability to form spatial memories

Increased inflammation after infections impairs brain's ability to form spatial memories by disrupting neural circuits involved in learning and memory. The study used PET scans to measure effects of inflammation on glucose consumption in the brain, revealing a decrease in glucose metabolism in the Medial Temporal Lobe.

SourceWellcome Trust·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateJan 24, 2014

Motor excitability predicts working memory

A study by researchers from the University of Basel found that individuals with high motor excitability have better working memory than those with low excitability. The research used transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure motor cortical excitability and its correlation with working memory performance, revealing a positive correla...

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology·DateDec 23, 2013

An important discovery related to anxiety disorders and trauma

A team of Montréal researchers discovered that the protein PC7 plays a critical role in the brain by affecting cognitive performance such as anxiety, learning, and emotional memory. The study found that mice lacking PC7 had impaired episodic and emotional memories, while exhibiting increased levels of dopamine in the brain.

SourceInstitut de recherches cliniques de Montreal·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 4, 2013

New drug reduces negative memory

Researchers at the University of Basel have identified a new compound that reduces aversive memory, a trait central to anxiety disorders like PTSD. The compound, a known antihistamine, was found to significantly reduce memory recall of negative pictures but not neutral or positive ones.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2013

Mice modeling schizophrenia show key brain network in overdrive

Researchers at RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics have uncovered a faulty brain mechanism underlying schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders in humans. Mice genetically engineered to display symptoms of schizophrenia exhibit abnormal neural activity in the default mode network, which processes memories and recall.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNeuron·DateOct 16, 2013

Memory improves for older adults using computerized brain-fitness program

A study by UCLA researchers found that older adults who used the Dakim BrainFitness program demonstrated significant improvements in both immediate and delayed memory skills, as well as language abilities. The findings suggest that computerized brain training can be an effective way to improve cognitive skills in this age group.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateJun 25, 2013