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Story writing impacts consumer experience

A study by Patricia West and colleagues found that writing stories about paintings boosts writer's preference for a painting. Stories focusing on the author also show improved recall and enjoyment of the task. The authors argue that this effect applies to various consumer goods, such as clothing and family vacations.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJan 7, 2005

How brain gives special resonance to emotional memories

A new study found that the brain's amygdala interacts with memory-related brain regions during emotional memory formation, contributing to its emotional resonance. The researchers discovered a significant correlation between activity in emotion- and memory-related brain regions during emotional memory formation.

SourceDuke University·JournalNeuron·DateJun 9, 2004

Study in flies allows researchers to visualize formation of a memory

Scientists have developed fruit flies with fluorescent genes to study memory formation, discovering that a specific set of neurons, called projection neurons, show increased active connections after learning. The new synaptic activity disappeared within minutes but the flies continued to avoid the odor they associated with the shock.

Scientists discover why not enough choline results in fewer brain cells, poorer memory

A recent study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that a lack of choline during pregnancy can lead to reduced brain cell formation and impaired memory in children. The scientists discovered that choline plays a crucial role in regulating stem cell division, which is essential for brain development.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalJournal of Neurochemistry·DateMar 18, 2004

Flies offer clues to anesthesia-resistant memory

Researchers discovered that the radish gene encodes a phospholipase-A2 enzyme, which plays a crucial role in anesthesia-resistant memory. The study found this enzyme is also involved in memory formation in chickens and rodents, suggesting a conserved mechanism across animal phyla.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 16, 2004

MIT team discovers memory mechanism

The study reveals a direct activational signal from the synapse to the protein synthesis machinery, enabling neurons to boost protein production rapidly during long-term memory formation and synaptic strengthening. This discovery has significant implications for understanding psychiatric and neurologic diseases, potentially leading to ...

Exercise improves learning and memory

Researchers found that exercise increases the growth of new nerve cells and improves long-term memory in adult mice. Mice exercising for one month showed a significant improvement in memory skills, with better recall times and increased neural activity compared to sedentary mice.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 8, 1999

Memorizing in your sleep

Researchers discover that exposure to novel environments stimulates the zif-268 gene during sleep, which may help consolidate memories. During REM sleep, this gene is reactivated in rats that explored new environments, suggesting a crucial role in memory processing.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalLearning & Memory·DateOct 22, 1999

In Spite Of Computers, Handwriting Instruction Is Important Because Of Carry-Over To Composition

A study by University of Washington professors Virginia Berninger and Robert Abbott found that handwriting instruction, combined with composition practice, significantly improved writing accuracy and quality in first-graders. The research also showed a direct carry-over from handwriting to compositional skills throughout the elementary...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateJan 29, 1998