Articles tagged with Memory Formation
A study published in Nature found that new memories are replayed and consolidated when the pupil contracts during non-REM sleep, while older memories are replayed when the pupil dilates. This micro-structure separates new learning from old knowledge, preventing 'catastrophic forgetting'.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered the brain actively prevents learning both types of memory, leading to confusion. The brain prioritizes one type of learning over the other using a strategy to resolve conflicts.
A new study by Northwestern University researchers found that breathing rhythms coordinate hippocampal brain waves during sleep, strengthening memory consolidation. This synchronization is critical for proper memory formation and retrieval, with implications for treating disordered breathing during sleep, such as sleep apnea.
Researchers investigate how perturbed gene expression contributes to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's. Alternative polyadenylation, a mechanism regulating protein production, is being studied for its potential role in the disease.
The study found that slow electrical waves during deep sleep strengthen synaptic connections and make the neocortex more receptive to information. This enhances memory formation by creating a state of elevated readiness in the cortex.
Researchers uncover human hippocampal CA3 region's unique neural connectivity and synaptic properties. The team found that the human CA3 network codes information efficiently to maximize associations and memory storage, with sparser connections and more reliable synapses compared to mouse models.
Researchers found that weakly spatial cells gradually correlate their activity with other neurons to form a mental map, stitching together individual locations. Sleep aids in this process, refining neural network activity and consolidating memories.
Researchers Fernanda Morales-Calva and Stephanie Leal explored the three Ws of memory - what, where, and when - to understand why people remember certain things. They found that emotional content, personal significance, repetition, and attention can influence memory retention. The study highlights the importance of considering individu...
Researchers found a parallel pathway to long-term memory formation that bypasses short-term memory. Blocking short-term memory did not disrupt long-term memory retention.
Researchers at UCSF found a brain signature of resilience in mice that suggests a new way to treat severe depression. Stress changes activity in the amygdala, distinguishing resilient from less resilient mice. By stimulating neurons, the team improved decision-making and reduced ruminating in less resilient mice.
The study found decreased NMDA receptors in synapses and increased extrasynaptic membranes in Alzheimer's patients, suggesting neuronal toxicity-related activity. The novel protocol allows for precise analysis of these receptors in human postmortem brains, paving the way for new therapeutic approaches.
Researchers studied mossy fiber synapses in the hippocampus, a crucial region for memory formation and spatial navigation. They discovered that specific proteins play key roles in encoding and processing distinguishing features to trigger memory retrieval.
Researchers used computer simulations to explore the concept of learning in cells, finding a requirement for 'timescale separation' and potential 'memory' mechanisms. The study could deepen our understanding of how learning and memory operate at the most basic level of life.
Researchers at SickKids have discovered that stress changes how our brain encodes and retrieves aversive memories, leading to generalized fearful responses. A promising intervention has been identified to limit this effect and potentially reduce the harm caused by PTSD.
Researchers found that acute stress prevents mice from forming specific memories, instead forming generalized memories encoded by larger numbers of neurons. Stress disrupts engram ensembles in the lateral amygdala, leading to a loss of memory specificity.
A study of over 4,000 participants found that those with both conditions showed faster memory impairment. The researchers suggest that the combination of joint pain and depressive symptoms can lead to an 'overlap' of information in the brain, causing cognitive decline.
A study from Tohoku University reveals that astrocytic manipulation affects the fate of long-term memory, with acidifying astrocytes preventing memories from being remembered and alkalinizing astrocytes preserving them. The findings suggest a parallel process of short-term and long-term memory formation.
A study by New York University researchers shows that non-brain cells, such as those from the kidney and nerve tissues, can form memories through a process called the massed-spaced effect. This phenomenon allows these cells to retain information better when studied in spaced intervals rather than all at once.
A study published in Nature reveals that astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells, play a crucial role in storing and retrieving memories. Researchers found that these non-neuronal cell types work closely with groups of neurons called engrams to regulate the formation and recall of memories.
Mount Sinai researchers discovered a neural mechanism for memory integration that involves replaying experiences, integrating new information with existing memories, and linking memories across time. This finding has implications for understanding adaptive and maladaptive memory processes, such as PTSD.
Alzheimer's researchers identify specific inhibitors that prevent nerve cell loss and improve social recognition memory in mouse models. The study sheds light on the molecular sequence of events leading to cellular demise and opens up new research avenues for halting or preventing brain damage.
A study by Northwestern University found that cross-talk between the hippocampus and cortex can predict chronic pain, with higher anxiety levels increasing precision. The researchers suggest targeting anxiety after injury to prevent chronic pain, paving the way for novel treatments.
A new study from UT Arlington found that setting reminders can significantly reduce age-related declines in memory, particularly in prospective memory. The study suggests that reminders help counteract cognitive strain by making memory retrieval less reliant on internal processes.
Scientists found that sleep deprivation during early life can negatively impact key brain functions, leading to lasting effects on behavior and social skills. The study also suggests that genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder can interact with sleep disruption to cause long-lasting changes.
Researchers developed a new memristive device capable of self-compliance, multilevel operation, and crossbar array formation for neural networks. The device demonstrated consistent switching characteristics and reliable multilevel operation with low power consumption, achieving high accuracy in image classification tasks.
A new Concordia study reveals that bilingualism is associated with larger and healthier hippocampi in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The research found no evidence of hippocampal atrophy in bilinguals across the continuum of Alzheimer’s development.
Studies show that the cerebellum is critical for forming stable memories for sensorimotor skills, largely independent of short-term memory systems. Researchers found that longer time intervals between trials increased reliance on impaired long-term memory.
Researchers aim to develop small molecule drugs to target neuroinflammation in the brain, which contributes to cognitive decline. The goal is to slow or even cure Alzheimer's disease, offering a potential game-changer for the therapeutic landscape.
A new clinical trial reveals that synthetic cannabis, specifically dronabinol, can effectively reduce agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease by an average of 30%. The treatment showed similar calming effects to current medications without adverse results such as delirium or seizures.
A landmark study found specific types of brain cells fired in a way that mirrored the order and structure of a person's experience. The brain retains these unique firing patterns after the experience is concluded and can rapidly replay them while at rest.
A study by Bonn researchers confirms the important function of concept neurons in working memory and predicts correct memorization. The activation of these neurons during the working memory phase can also be used to predict whether a test subject will correctly remember an image that has already been shown.
Newly developed tools enable selective labeling and manipulation of synapses, advancing understanding of learning, memory, and neurological disorders. The review highlights promising molecular actuators and optogenetic approaches to unravel synaptic function mysteries.
A clinical trial led by UC San Francisco aims to develop new therapies for progressive supranuclear palsy, with a focus on reducing time to find effective treatments and increasing diverse participant enrollment. The five-year grant could lead to the first effective drugs for this incurable neurodegenerative disorder.
Researchers have found evidence for place cells in zebrafish brains, allowing them to create internal maps of their environment. The brain region, telencephalon, is also thought to be analogous to the mammalian hippocampus and plays a key role in spatial orientation, social networks, and memory.
Researchers mapped 1.65 million cells from 437 aging brains, identifying two distinct paths of cellular change that lead to either Alzheimer's disease or alternative brain aging. These findings offer new insights into the development of Alzheimer's and how it differs from healthy brain aging.
Researchers have discovered a new type of brain cell in the medial entorhinal cortex that accurately predicts future locations as an animal travels. This discovery helps explain how planned spatial navigation is possible and has important implications for understanding mechanisms of spatial navigation and episodic memory formation.
Researchers at Medical University of South Carolina found that cocaine triggers a specific protein, NPAS4, which hijacks brain circuitry and promotes further drug use. Inhibiting these cells eliminates drug-seeking behavior in mice.
A team of researchers from Penn State has identified HDAC3 as a key contributor to age-related impairments in memory updating. When blocked, older mice performed similarly to their younger counterparts, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for improving cognitive flexibility in old age.
A study published in Science Advances found that the quality of synapses, specifically dendritic spine head diameter, predicts episodic memory performance in older adults. Researchers suggest targeting pathways that maintain spine head diameter or synaptic strength may yield greater therapeutic benefits for Alzheimer's disease prevention.
Viji Santhakumar, a UCR professor, has been awarded a $3.5 million NIH grant to study brain circuit function and its impact on memory formation and cognitive deficits in diseases like epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that epigenetic state affects neurons' recruitment into memory trace formation. Open chromatin states enable more efficient learning. The study opens new avenues for understanding learning and may lead to medication for improving cognitive disorders.
Researchers found that cuttlefish can create false memories by mentally reconstructing events from different features, but not scents. This suggests an efficient memory strategy where smaller building blocks are stored and reconstructed, reducing memory costs.
A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that blocking a protein called Activin A can halt dyskinesia symptoms and effectively erase the brain's 'bad memory' response to certain Parkinson's treatments. This could lead to longer-term use of L-DOPA for patients.
Researchers found that blue and great tits possess 'episodic-like' memory, recalling past experiences such as food availability, location, and timing. This ability may help the birds cope with environmental stress and fluctuation influenced by climate change.
Researchers have found that the serotonin 2C receptor plays a crucial role in regulating memory in both mice and humans. The study discovered that non-functional mutations of the receptor are associated with memory deficits in humans, and that administering a serotonin analog can improve memory in animal models of Alzheimer's disease.
Nerve cells in the hippocampus region of the bat brain encode information on multiple characteristics of other individuals, including sex and dominance hierarchy. This study sheds light on how the brain operates and generates thinking processes and behavior.
Researchers have found that social memories lost due to sleep deprivation can be restored in mice using a drug used to treat asthma, while spatial memories can be reversed with a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. These findings suggest potential for reversing human forgetfulness.
Researchers have uncovered the role of KIBRA in stabilizing memory formation through persistent synaptic tagging. This mechanism explains how memories can be stable for years despite constant cellular and molecular changes.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a small molecule compound that restores physiological levels of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), reducing cellular senescence and tissue inflammation. TERT restoration also spurred new neuron formation with improved memory and enhanced neuromuscular function.
Two studies from University of Michigan reveal that sleep helps form and update memories, including spatial awareness. Sleep deprivation impairs memory by reducing neuron reactivation and replay, leading to long-term detrimental effects on memory consolidation.
Researchers found that angry and fearful faces were more strongly affected in terms of color recognition compared to neutral faces. Memory colors varied between expressions, with red-yellow being the typical color for angry and fearful faces.
Researchers led by Dr. Victor Luna aim to develop new treatments for late-life depression and Alzheimer's disease by understanding how synapses function in the aging brain. They will investigate the role of a synaptic protein called mGluR2 in memory formation and emotion.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that depressive symptoms are linked to subsequent memory decline in older people, and conversely, poorer memory is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms. The researchers suggest that addressing depressive symptoms may help slow down memory decline.
Scientists at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology identify a positive glutamate-NO-glutamate feedback loop that blocks long-term potentiation and impairs learning and memory. The study suggests that this loop may explain memory loss in stroke patients and potentially offer a solution for treatment.
A team of researchers from Rice University and the University of Michigan found that some neurons not only replay recent past experiences but also anticipate future experience during sleep. The discovery provides an unprecedented view of how individual neurons in the hippocampus stabilize and tune spatial representations during periods...
Researchers found that exercise increased neuron growth in the hippocampus, rewiring neural circuits to help mice forget strong, traumatic memories. This approach may offer new treatments for PTSD and drug addiction.
A new study reveals that working memory representations transform from unstable to solid in the brain's ability to hold and process information. Through repetitive practice, neural pathways solidify, making performance more accurate and automatic.
New research reveals exercise reverts aged microglia gene expression patterns to those of young microglia, supporting the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus. Exercise also reduces T cell accumulation in the brain, a common feature of aging.
Researchers found that repetitive practice leads to changes in working memory circuits, making them more stable and refined. The study's findings have implications for addressing memory-related disorders.
Researchers at UCLA Health discovered a novel, energy-efficient mechanism of working memory that reduces metabolic cost even during sleep. The discovery is published in Nature Communications and may provide an early diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.