Articles tagged with Memory Formation
A team of NYU researchers discovered that two growth factor families, TrkB and TGFβr-II, play distinct roles in creating long-term memories by exerting their actions in different parts of the brain. At different times, these molecules swap roles to facilitate memory formation.
Researchers found that extra sleep can restore memory formation in fruit flies with disrupted genes, similar to Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that sleep helps reinforce connections between brain cells and cut back on useless information.
The study suggests the hippocampus is primarily associated with memory formation and not spatial skills. Patients with hippocampal lesions can perform spatial tasks as long as these tasks don't depend on long-term memory, supported by frontal lobe functions.
Researchers at MIT developed a system that cleverly distributes data around multicore chips' memory banks, improving execution times by 18 percent on average while increasing energy efficiency. In simulations involving a 64-core chip, the system increased computational speeds by 46 percent while reducing power consumption by 36 percent.
Gene expression in neurons is crucial for memory formation. After fear conditioning, researchers found altered gene expression in the auditory thalamus and cortex regions of the brain.
A new study identifies a neural mechanism for translating unpleasant experiences into fear memories by changing amygdala connections. The findings suggest that Hebbian plasticity is partially correct but requires concurrent activation of noradrenaline to form memories.
A new international study led by the Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre has identified a molecule that puts a brake on brain processing and when removed, brain function and memory recall are improved. The study found that suppressing the production of molecules required for building new memories leads to stronger con...
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology proposes a theoretical framework for understanding memory formation and modification. The researchers suggest that large prediction errors lead to memory formation, while small errors result in memory modification. Damage to the hippocampus can impair the brain's ability to carve memories.
Researchers have created a novel technology to simulate the hippocampus, a key region in memory formation. By analyzing the 3D model, they found that the hippocampus' shape and size can explain why neurons fire at specific frequencies.
A study using morphed images of celebrities found that individual neurons react to subjective perception rather than visual stimuli. This suggests that neurons play a key role in the formation of memory by encoding our thoughts and images.
Researchers at the University of Warwick found that a lack of the MK2/3 protein is linked to structural and physiological changes in the nervous system, leading to early signs of dementia. These changes restrict learning and memory formation capabilities, but not memory formation itself.
Researchers have identified a key gene linked to Huntington's disease as also playing a crucial role in normal long-term memory formation. The study used the marine snail Aplysia to explore this connection and found that eliminating the protein disrupted memory formation.
Researchers discovered that the Notch signaling pathway is involved in adult fear memory formation. MicroRNAs, specifically miRNA-34a, regulate the pathway and are increased after fear learning occurs. This study provides a starting point for developing new treatments against PTSD.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have developed a new diagnostic tool to distinguish between different types of dementia and memory damage. The model takes into account both semantic and autobiographical memories, leading to better approaches for rehabilitation.
A new study found that millennials are more skeptical of information on Twitter, forming false memories less when exposed to the platform. The researchers propose that young adults are taking into account the medium of the message when integrating information into memory.
Researchers at TSRI identified a critical protein complex, RGS7, that regulates memory formation by modulating GABA signaling. Mice lacking RGS7 exhibited deficits in learning and memory, highlighting the complex's importance in cognitive function.
Researchers pinpoint specific neurons where certain types of memory formation occur, a breakthrough that could help predict disease-damaged neurons in humans. The study used imaging technology to follow changes in the brains of live flies and found that certain dopaminergic neurons respond to elevated levels of cAMP.
Researchers discovered a new brain circuit that shapes memory formation by endowing neurons with the ability to connect two events separated in time into a single experience. Island cells, found in the entorhinal cortex, project to the hippocampus and suppress the formation of temporal associations.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a potential new treatment for PTSD by using an HDAC2 inhibitor to make brain memories more malleable. This approach may be more effective than traditional psychotherapy alone in treating patients with well-established traumatic memories.
A preclinical study reveals that histone deacetylase inhibitors can enhance brain's ability to replace old traumatic memories with new ones, offering promising avenues for treating PTSD and anxiety disorders. Exposure-based therapy can be combined with HDACis to improve treatment for enduring traumatic memories.
Scientists at Medical College of Georgia discovered that disabling a key brain component impairs memory formation and retrieval. Mice lacking an NMDA receptor exhibit flat tones, poor associations, and difficulty recalling fearful memories, highlighting the importance of reverberation in memory consolidation.
Scientists trained desert locusts using Pavlov's dog method, finding that they can re-associate toxic odors with food rewards when in a swarm. Locusts retain memories of previously acquired associations but cannot form new aversive memories.
Researchers found that individuals with exceptional autobiographical memory (HSAM) are vulnerable to false memories, similar to those with average memory. The study suggests that no one is immune to memory distortion.
Researchers trained pond snails to forget how to breathe air and found that single stressful events impaired memory, but multiple stresses blocked all learning and memory. The study published in PLOS ONE reveals that stress affects animals' ability to form long-term memories.
A new study by University of British Columbia researcher finds that some people are genetically predisposed to see the world darkly due to a previously known gene variant. The ADRA2b deletion variant influences norepinephrine levels, affecting real-time perception and emotional memory formation.
Researchers found a group of Wnt proteins essential for long-term memory, but not short-term memory. The study suggests that Wnt signaling participates actively in memory formation and shares molecular mechanisms with early development.
Researchers successfully created and stored false memories in mice using optogenetics, a technique that allows them to activate specific brain cells. The study suggests that many neurological traces of false memories are identical to those of authentic memories.
A research team found Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae inhibits advanced glycation end product formation, reducing levels in the frontal cortex and improving learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats. The plant's antioxidative effect may contribute to its neuroprotective properties.
Gladstone scientists have mapped the process by which brain cells form long-term memories, revealing how an important protein called Arc regulates neuron activity. The discovery provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying memory formation and may shed light on neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and autism.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that clenching the right fist before memorizing information strengthens the memory, while clenching the left fist before recalling improves verbal recall. Researchers suggest this effect may be due to brain regions associated with memory formation being activated by hand-clenching.
Researchers have identified a key molecule responsible for triggering chemical processes in the brain linked to memory formation. The study found that the gene CASK regulates the 'molecular memory switch', enabling it to remain active even after calcium has gone, paving the way for new therapies to reverse memory loss.
Researchers at UC Irvine have identified a novel molecular mechanism that triggers long-term memory formation, which may be linked to intellectual disabilities. The study suggests that mutations in the Baf53b gene can impair synaptic function and inhibit long-term memories.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a novel storage mechanism that regulates memory formation by modulating actin fibers in neurons. This discovery has significant implications for the treatment of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and may lead to the development of new therapeutic treatments.
Ron Davis, chair of the Neuroscience Department at Scripps Research Institute, has been selected for a prestigious Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award to study active forgetting in memory formation. The grant will focus on understanding the role of dopamine signaling in learning and memory, with potential implications for treating d...
A new study by Scripps Research Institute scientists confirms a critical role for microRNA-182 in the development of emotional memory in the amygdala. MicroRNA-182 was found to promote local protein synthesis and support synapse-specificity of memories.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that mice lacking a widely accepted enzyme for long-term memory formation were still able to form memories as well as normal mice. The study refutes the prevailing theory of how synapses strengthen, suggesting PKM-zeta is not the key molecule for long-term memory.
Researchers will use Drosophila melanogaster to define how the brain organizes different types of memories among its neurons and understand Pavlovian conditioning.
Researchers discovered that MAPK and PKA coordinate their activity both spatially and temporally in memory formation. For short-term memories, only PKA is active, while for intermediate- and long-term memories, both molecules are involved with a specific spatiotemporal relationship.
Researchers discovered two compounds, IC87201 and ZL006, that disrupt nitrous oxide production in the brain, reducing fear responses in rats. The findings suggest that disrupting this process may offer a means of preventing long-term post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
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.
A study published in Science found that the brain's memory system adapts to recent experiences, influencing how we process subsequent information. Researchers showed participants novel objects and asked them to identify similarities between old and new items, finding that previous experience influenced their responses.
Researchers found that taking a brief wakeful rest after learning new information boosts memory retention. Participants who rested after learning a story remembered more details than those who played a game or were distracted, even a week later.
Scientists from the Max Planck Institute identified four different types of dopamine-releasing nerve cells involved in forming positive and negative memories in fruit flies. These nerve cells use dopamine to communicate with other neurons, and their activation can signal aversive or rewarding stimuli.
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.
UCSF researchers identified brain activity patterns in rats that play a role in memory formation and decision-making. These patterns, known as sharp-wave ripples, are critical for recalling past experiences and making informed decisions.
Researchers have gained a better understanding of how precise memories are formed through the study of inhibitory neurons. The discovery sheds light on the neurobiological basis of memory problems in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, and could potentially lead to new treatments.
Researchers found that stimulating specific neurons can reverse age-related memory defects in fruit flies, which may have implications for human memory disorders. The study used functional cellular imaging to monitor neuron activity and showed that cold-activated ion channels can rescue intermediate-term memory.
Researchers have successfully harnessed neurons in mouse brains, allowing them to at least partially control a specific memory. The study advances understanding of how memories form and offers new insight into disorders such as schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Researchers found that BDNF uses microRNA to target the production of specific proteins involved in learning and memory, and that increasing these microRNAs can halt protein production. The study sheds light on how memories are made and offers hope for treating mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
A study by RIKEN-MIT Center found that specific neurons in the dentate gyrus serve distinct roles in memory formation based on whether they were produced from young or old neural stem cells. This discovery could lead to new drug targets for treating memory impairments associated with PTSD and aging.
New connections between brain cells form in clusters as animals learn to perform a new task, according to a study published in Nature. The researchers found that clustered synapses are more likely to persist through the learning sessions and after training stopped.
Researchers found that tomosyn regulates synaptic signaling and plays a crucial role in controlling whether synapses get stronger or weaker, affecting memory formation. Knocking out tomosyn impaired fruit flies' ability to retain memories.
Researchers discovered zinc's critical role in regulating neuronal communication, affecting memories formation and learning. The study found that removing zinc interferes with long-term potentiation, a process important for memory and learning.
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found that a common cancer protein, cyclin E, plays a crucial role in memory formation and may be implicated in Alzheimer's disease. By inhibiting the activity of cyclin E, researchers believe they can improve memory function.
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.
Researchers found that exposure to large amounts of alcohol interferes with key receptors in the brain, inhibiting long-term potentiation and memory formation. The steroids manufactured by neurons inhibit synaptic plasticity, causing amnesia.
A study at the Weizmann Institute found that false memories are formed when our brains rely on false information from others, which is reinforced by social pressure. The researchers discovered a unique pattern of brain activity associated with this process, highlighting a surprising connection between social and memory processing.
New research by UC Berkeley scientists reveals that fear and emotional experiences lead to stronger memories through the activation of newborn neurons in the hippocampus. The amygdala induces the generation of new neurons, which provide a 'blank slate' for imprinting fearful memories.
A team at the University of Pittsburgh has created living models of brain cells that can transmit electrical impulses and remain active for extended periods, providing a new view on memory formation. This work reveals the intricate connections between neurons and offers insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying memory creation.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute identified a change in calcium influx into specific brain neurons that is fundamental to long-term memory. This increase, known as a memory trace, is observed in normal fruit flies but absent in mutants with impaired long-term memory.