Articles tagged with Memory Processes
A new study by NIST and George Mason University researchers may have found the optimal characteristics for a type of computer memory based on nanowires. The technology has the potential to store information faster and at lower voltage, making it suitable for applications such as portable computers and cell phones.
Researchers found that vivid ads can create false memories of product experience, leading to strong attitudes and confidence. Decreasing brand familiarity and shortening the time between viewing the ad and reporting evaluations reduced the false memories in participants.
Researchers at NIST created nanomagnets with egg-like shapes to study their effects on magnetic properties. The shape distortions led to complex wave patterns and frequency shifts, which can be harnessed for developing more reliable random-access memories (RAM) that reduce processor power needs.
A new study reveals that environmental enrichment enhances memory by forming new synapses and breaking down old ones, with the β-Adducin protein playing a critical role in this process.
A group led by Takhee Lee demonstrated an optimal combination of materials and processing for a resistive memory circuit design. The scientists showed that exposing the contacts to an oxygen plasma improved the on/off signal ratio more than 10-fold, enabling high-performance memory devices.
Researchers at North Carolina State University developed HyperSentry software to detect hypervisor breaches in virtual computing clouds. This innovation measures hypervisor integrity without alerting the malware, helping prevent intelligent malware concealment tactics.
Researchers at Rice University have developed the first two-terminal memory chips using only silicon, which can be easily adapted to nanoelectronic manufacturing techniques. The new technology features high on-off ratios, excellent endurance and fast switching times, making it suitable for military and NASA applications.
A recent study published in the journal Brain has found a link between nerve cell production and memory in humans. The research suggests that increasing nerve cell regeneration in the hippocampus may alleviate or prevent memory loss, providing new insights into age-related cognitive decline.
Researchers from UCI and Scripps discovered that myosin II proteins play a critical role in synaptic plasticity and learning, suggesting new therapeutic targets for memory-related disorders. This finding adds an unexpected dimension to the story of how memories are encoded.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have uncovered a critical role for myosin II in long-term memory formation. Myosin II links together key processes, including signal transmission and synaptic plasticity, to solidify neuronal communication.
A study led by the University of Southern California found that SIRT1 protein is essential for recall in mice, but over-expression did not improve performance; instead, it raised questions about supplementing with sirtuin activators.
Scientists at Hebrew University have developed a new technology using poplar tree protein to increase computer memory capacity and reduce manufacturing costs. The approach involves combining protein molecules with silica nanoparticles, resulting in a cost-effective system that can greatly expand existing memory capacity.
TWAS has received the 2010 Premio Feltrinelli award for its unprecedented accomplishments in promoting scientific capacity in developing countries. The prize includes a Euro 250,000 cash award and recognizes TWAS's inspirational mission to advance global economic and social well-being through South-South cooperation in science.
Scientists found a way to pharmacologically induce a memory of safety in the brain of rats by administering brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into the prefrontal cortex. This procedure prevented rats from expressing fear to a tone that had been previously paired with a shock, suggesting new treatments for anxiety disorders.
Researchers at Duke University found that cognitive ability, not age, is the key factor in predicting risky decisions. The study showed that older adults who scored higher on cognitive tests made similar economic decisions as younger adults.
Onur Mutlu received a five-year grant to research techniques and algorithms for creating scalable high-performance memory systems. His goal is to develop predictable and controllable systems with guaranteed service quality on multi-core processors.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered a modified protein that plays a key role in memory processes, altering its function and enabling stronger neural connections. This finding represents an important step in understanding how the brain stores memories.
Emerging optical technologies will enable warehouse-scale computing data centers, allowing users to access their data from anywhere and at any time. Google's Cedric Lam highlights the importance of low-cost, high-bandwidth, and high-density optical fiber interconnects in powering cloud computing.
Researchers found that forgetting is an active process to remove memory, involving a molecular pathway including small protein Rac. Forgetting helps new information come in by removing old memories.
A team of computer scientists at Google, Rutgers University, and universities in California, Michigan, and Virginia will explore ways to create low power modes in servers. The goal is to conserve 40-50% of the power consumed by current servers.
Recent studies have found a crucial role for calpain in the processes of learning and memory. Calpain is believed to mediate the effects of BDNF, a molecule considered a potential
Researchers found that number-sound effects on price magnitude perceptions occur when consumers mentally rehearse sale prices, and can be influenced by phonemes in different languages. Additionally, participants perceived smaller discounts as larger when prices were marked down to specific numbers with distinct sounds.
UCSB scientists have made a major discovery in how the brain encodes memories. They found that strengthening synapses, which cement memories into place, involves making new proteins. The production of these proteins is regulated by RNA and microRNA, and degradation of silencing molecules allows for protein synthesis.
A recent study using fMRI found that men tend to process emotional stimuli in terms of required action, while women focus on the feelings engendered by these stimuli. Women showed stronger activation in the left thalamus when viewing negative images, indicating a stronger neural circuit for identification of emotional stimuli.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that palmitate marks NMDA receptors for activation, strengthening long-term memory circuits. This reversible process offers possibilities for manipulating memory, potentially enhancing or erasing it.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University created a server architecture that uses low-power, embedded processors and flash memory to handle more queries with less energy. The Fast Array of Wimpy Nodes (FAWN) cluster can operate on less energy than a 100-watt light bulb, making it an attractive option for data-intensive applications.
Reijmers is investigating the proteins involved in long-term memory storage, with potential applications in treating diseases like Alzheimer's. His research aims to understand the mechanisms of memory and apply them to various fields, including addiction, epilepsy, and spinal cord regeneration.
A study led by MSU researcher Kimberly Fenn found that sleep helps reduce false memories and improve performance in individuals with poor memory, including seniors. This suggests that sleep strengthens the source of the memory, allowing for better recall and recognition.
New research shows that dopamine reinforces drug-associated memories, driving and perpetuating addiction. The study found that nicotine induces synaptic potentiation, which correlates with the mice learning to prefer a place associated with the nicotine dose.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has expanded its high-end computing system to support climate simulations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The new system, powered by Intel's Nehalem architecture, will enable faster and more accurate climate modeling.
A study of 84 students found that those with high working-memory capacity were more resistant to distractions, while those with low capacity struggled to focus. The researchers suggest that improving the brain's ability to filter out irrelevant stimuli could lead to new therapies for easily distracted individuals.
A recent neuroimaging study reveals that distinguishing true from false involves two distinct processes: memory and reasoning. The study found that true statements are processed in the left inferior parietal cortex, while false statements activate the right fronto-polar cortex.
Women experience cognitive decline during the menopause transition, with verbal memory and processing speed affected. However, these declines are temporary and resolve once women enter postmenopause, suggesting that estrogen or progesterone may have a beneficial impact on brain function before menopause.
A study by Marianne Hirsch and Leo Spitzer explores the evolution of Holocaust Studies and Memory Studies, arguing that even a witness' silence can tell a powerful story. The authors examine how oral and video testimonies have redefined listening and the role of witnesses in shaping collective memory.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered a form of synaptic memory in the olfactory bulb, which could explain how we store information about specific smells. This finding provides a new perspective on the brain's processing of sensory information and has implications for understanding human memory.
Researchers at UC San Diego and Microsoft Research have developed a plug-and-play hardware prototype called Somniloquy, which induces a new energy-saving state in personal computers. This allows PCs to save up to 80% of their energy consumption while still maintaining network presence and running well-defined application functions.
Researchers used brain scanners to record brain activity while participants drew cartoon faces from memory. The findings suggest that the brain transforms visual information into non-visual forms, creating action plans for drawing.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a nanoscale one-stop shop for electronics that can yield transistors two nanometers in size. This breakthrough has potential applications for high-density memory devices, sensors and computer processors, and could pave the way for more advanced technologies.
A study of 197 people with mild cognitive impairment found that engaging in mental activities like reading, crafting, and playing games reduced the risk of memory loss by 30-50% compared to those who didn't participate. Participants who watched TV for less than 7 hours a day were also 50% less likely to develop memory loss.
A computer-based training program improved brain processing speed and accuracy, leading to double the improvement in certain aspects of memory compared to a control group. The study suggests that aging adults may be able to make better-informed decisions about ways to improve memory by focusing on improving brain processing speed.
Researchers found that rapid-fire inputs initiate a cellular memory process in single cells lasting as long as a minute, holding moment-to-moment information. The study has implications for addiction, attention disorders and stress-related memory loss.
SUNY Downstate researchers discovered that the PKMzeta molecule stores complex memories while leaving other brain functions intact. This finding suggests that targeting specific debilitating memories with PKMzeta erasure could be effective in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and addictions.
A proteomics study found that numbing drugs can have profound effects on the developing nervous system, even after minimal exposure. The study highlights the need for caution when administering sedatives or anesthetics to pregnant women or infants.
Scientists analyze brain structure and find PHLPP enzyme silences vital cell-survival protein, leaving vulnerable cells susceptible to damage. The discovery could lead to solutions for age-related memory loss and provide insights into the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease.
Jaguar, the Oak Ridge supercomputer, has a peak performance of 1.64 petaflops, enabling researchers to solve complex problems faster and explore dynamic systems. The system has already run scientific applications in days, sustaining petaflops performance on multiple applications.
Carbon nanotubes are used to create a non-volatile memory cell with high speed and low power consumption. The new technology combines the benefits of dynamic and flash memories, overcoming fundamental limits of current memory technologies.
The upgraded Oak Ridge National Laboratory supercomputer has achieved a sustained performance of over 1.3 petaflops, enabling researchers to simulate physical processes on an unprecedented scale. The new system will facilitate breakthroughs in climate modeling, renewable energy, and materials science.
Astrocytes fine-tune synaptic plasticity by secreting and re-releasing neurotrophic factor BDNF, influencing long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). This process affects neurons' ability to communicate with each other, impacting learning and memory.
Researchers have discovered a new process that regulates adverse responses to bad memories by working on a tiny group of neurons inside the amygdala. By blocking or activating specific receptors, scientists can speed up or slow down traumatic responses, offering potential new treatments for panic disorders.
Researchers have been awarded $4 million to develop software for multithreaded supercomputers, enabling faster analysis of complex problems like power grid stability and biological networks. The new machines can handle large, random datasets more efficiently than traditional systems.
University of Missouri researchers discovered that the human brain has a fixed capacity for holding information in working memory, with an average capacity of 3-4 items. This finding has significant implications for understanding attention-deficit disorders and improving learning outcomes.
Michael Davis has made significant advances in understanding the neural basis of fear and its applications to psychiatric research, including a proposal for using NMDA receptor signaling to enhance fear extinction. His work has shown promise in treating disorders such as PTSD, OCD, and social phobia.
The Gerontological Society of America has awarded USC's Mara Mather the 2007 Richard Kalish Innovative Publication Award for her groundbreaking research on memory in older adults. Her work challenges traditional notions of memory as an exact photograph, highlighting the role of cognitive control in emotional memory.
Researchers at UCI discovered how to reverse learning and memory problems in fragile X syndrome by adding brain-derived neurotrophic factor proteins. This discovery provides scientific foundation for possible therapies that allow increased learning and memory in individuals with the condition.
Researchers found that exposing Fragile X knockout mice to an enriched environment restored normal neuronal plasticity and increased synaptic strength in the prefrontal cortex. This suggests that stimulating environments can facilitate the development of synaptic plasticity in cortical areas involved in higher cognitive function.
Brandeis University researchers have identified CaMKII as a key molecule in memory storage, allowing them to induce and biochemically erase memory in rat hippocampus slices. This discovery holds promise for treating Alzheimer's and epilepsy by weakening overly strengthened synapses.
Researchers found that taking breaks from studies, including getting a good night's sleep, enhances relational memory and 'big picture' inferences. This 'off-line' processing period allows the brain to unconsciously mull over information, leading to improved performance on complex tasks.
Researchers recorded activity in two brain regions during deep sleep, finding a complex 'dialogue' between the hippocampus and neocortex. The findings suggest that the neocortex drives communication during sleep, contradicting previous theories of hippocampal control.
A series of articles provides tried-and-true advice on maintaining and manipulating flies, inducing mutations, harvesting and analyzing embryos, and characterizing proteins. These protocols are designed to be easy to use at the bench, with reagents, equipment, and recipe lists.
Researchers found a toxic link between beta-amyloid and tau that causes nerve cell death in Alzheimer's disease. The connection occurs before the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, and affects cells containing tau, which account for just 10% of brain cells.