Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Chocolate makes snails smarter

Researchers found that a specific flavonoid in dark chocolate enhances the memories of pond snails, allowing them to learn and retain information more effectively. The study suggests that this compound may have potential cognitive benefits for humans as well, potentially improving learning and memory retention.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateSep 27, 2012

Fear can be erased from the brain

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.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience·DateSep 20, 2012

Your memory is like the telephone game

A study by Northwestern University found that human memories adapt and change with each retelling, leading to distorted recall. The research used a telephone game-like scenario where participants recalled object locations, showing improved recall accuracy on the final test for objects tested on day two but never exactly right.

Strobe eyewear training improves visual memory

Researchers at Duke University discovered that strobe eyewear training enhances visual short-term memory by disrupting vision and forcing participants to adjust their processing. The effects of improved visual memory retention were observed even after removing the eyewear, lasting up to 24 hours.

Why does vivid memory 'feel so real?'

Researchers found that vivid memory and real perceptual experience share striking similarities at the neural level, but not in every detail. The study used fMRI to analyze brain activity while participants watched video clips and then recalled them, finding a 91% match in sensory and motor areas of the cerebral cortex.

SourceBaycrest Centre for Geriatric Care·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·DateJul 23, 2012

Memory, judgment, and neuroeconomics -- News tips from Current Directions in Psychological Science

Recent studies in Current Directions in Psychological Science investigate the role of retrieval-based learning, attention to information in working memory, accurate personality judgment, and the use of neuroeconomic games to examine social decision making in children with externalizing disorders. These findings provide insights into th...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateJun 5, 2012

Neuron memory key to taming chronic pain

Researchers at McGill University have discovered that erasing neuronal memories of pain can reduce both persistent pain and heightened sensitivity to touch. By blocking the activity of a protein kinase, they were able to reverse hypersensitivity to pain in neurons.

SourceMcGill University·JournalMolecular Pain·DateFeb 13, 2012

New insights into how to correct false knowledge

Researchers at Duke University found that correcting false knowledge requires providing students with feedback, which enables them to identify errors and learn correct information. Students who received feedback were more likely to correct their mistakes in the short-term, but also more likely to forget the correct answer if they didn'...

SourceDuke University·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateFeb 7, 2012

Why bigger is better when it comes to our brain and memory

A new study published in Neuron found that a larger posterior hippocampus and smaller anterior hippocampus are linked to better recollection ability in healthy adults. The researchers suggest that functional connections between the posterior hippocampus and other brain regions play a key role in enhanced memory consolidation.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateDec 21, 2011

Where is the accurate memory? The eyes have it

Researchers found that tracking eye movements can reveal discrepancies in eyewitness reports. Participants spent more time looking at remembered faces and had disproportionate viewing of these faces before making a response. The study's findings could lead to improved eyewitness testimony accuracy and new insights into memory and decis...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateDec 5, 2011

A World Series to remember?

A new study published in Psychological Science found that fans of baseball teams tend to remember the games their teams won more than the ones they lost. The researchers discovered that positive experiences and social factors play a significant role in boosting memory for winning events.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateOct 25, 2011

Forgetting is part of remembering

Research shows that forgetting can be beneficial for memory and problem-solving. By eliminating irrelevant information, we can better retain and recall important details. This phenomenon is particularly evident in situations where updating our knowledge becomes necessary.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateOct 18, 2011

Illusory memories can have salutary effects

Research suggests that illusory memories can enhance survival by providing extra protection against predators. Additionally, these false memories can also contribute to improved problem-solving skills and a more optimistic self-concept. Memory illusions are seen as an adaptive mechanism, essential for human psychological well-being.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateOct 5, 2011

A deep male voice helps women remember

A study by David Smith and colleagues found that women's memory is sensitive to male voice pitch, a cue important for mate choice. Women preferred low pitch male voices and remembered objects more accurately when introduced by deep male voices.

SourceSpringer·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateSep 12, 2011

UCLA memory fitness program improves memory abilities of oldest adults

A new UCLA study found that a six-week memory fitness program improved verbal memory and reduced age-related memory decline in seniors over 80. The program included education on lifestyle factors impacting memory ability and overall brain health, resulting in enhanced self-perceived memory and cognitive function.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateAug 29, 2011

How memory is read out in the fly brain

A team of scientists identified the MB-V2 nerve cells as crucial for recalling associative memories in fruit flies. The study showed that these cells receive information from the mushroom body and relay it to other nerve cells, enabling memory 'read-out' and guiding behavior.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJul 8, 2011

Clues to why 'they' all look alike

Scientists discovered that brain activity increases when viewing same-race and other-race faces, but only predicts whether an other-race face will be remembered. The study suggests that individuation process is fragile for other-race faces due to lack of practice and social categorization.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateJun 30, 2011