Articles tagged with Working Memory
Researchers at UCLA Health have identified a brain region called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) that regulates memory integration. The vmPFC acts as a quality control checkpoint, preventing memories from getting mixed up when they are significantly different or far apart in time.
Ordinary adhesive tape stores a sequence of multiple memories with tunable strength, allowing for simple mechanical calculations. Researchers developed an automated device to create these memories by peeling the tape past designated distances.
Researchers found that brexpiprazole significantly improved information processing speed without worsening psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Cognitive dysfunction is a persistent challenge, affecting daily functioning and social participation.
The study reveals that higher language proficiency is associated with stronger functional connectivity within the brain network responsible for cognitive task performance. Deaf and hearing participants performed tasks similarly, but differences were observed in brain activity patterns.
Researchers tested Spatial Computing theory by examining neural activity and brain wave patterns in animals performing working memory and categorization tasks. The findings support the theory's predictions, including that alpha/beta waves represent task controls and rules, while spiking activity carries sensory information.
A new study published in Sleep Health found that the quality of a night's sleep, rather than its length, predicts how quickly older adults process information the next day. Researchers analyzed data from 261 participants aged 70 and above, who wore devices to track their sleep and completed cognitive assessments six times a day.
Two researchers, Leah Acker and Erin Gibson, have been awarded $750,000 to study cognitive aging through inflammation and sleep. The award aims to understand how the brain becomes vulnerable to cognitive decline and develop practical tools for protecting brain health.
Researchers found that adults behave like children when their working memory is overloaded, showing distributed attention and difficulty in focusing on the task goal. This suggests that children's distractible behavior may be a natural consequence of their developing memory system.
Researchers found that paradise fish use a unique strategy called 'alternation' to investigate new areas, engaging working memory and previously thought to be characteristic mainly of mammals. Zebrafish and paradise fish provide complementary opportunities to study brain function.
A 16-year study of over 10,000 individuals aged 50+ found that those with higher wellbeing were more likely to have better scores on memory tests. The association was independent of depressive symptoms and suggested that psychological factors affect brain health.
Researchers mapped dynamic cellular mechanisms of memory formation, storage and update, revealing new insights into encoding experiences in the brain. Memories are stored through biophysical changes in neuronal ensembles, which can be manipulated to induce recall.
A recent study developed a VR game that combines olfactory stimulation with immersive gameplay to improve cognitive function in older adults. After just 20 minutes of play, participants showed significant improvements in visuospatial rotation and memory tasks.
A new study found that staying active through moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with significantly better processing speed, working memory, and executive function in older adults. Even small changes to daily activities can have big impacts on brain health.
A recent study published in The Gerontologist found no difference in spatial working memory between older people with autistic traits and those who are neurotypical. Most participants maintained their cognitive ability over time, suggesting that autism is not associated with increased risk of age-related cognitive decline.
A new study from the University of Kansas explores the role of working memory in word problem-solving for students with and without math difficulties. Researchers found that using interventions to improve working memory can benefit students who struggle with math, reducing cognitive load and improving word problem-solving ability.
Researchers found that SIRT2, a previously unknown enzyme, plays a key role in excessive GABA production associated with Alzheimer's disease. This process leads to brain inflammation and memory impairment. By targeting SIRT2, scientists can selectively block its harmful effects on memory without affecting other brain functions.
Cognitive neuroscientists are using VR to develop innovative ways to assess cognitive decline, particularly in identifying age-related differences in spatial memory navigation. The study found significant impacts on memory performance due to the build-up of Alzheimer's proteins in the brain.
Researchers are using smartphones to capture naturalistic data on memory, sleep, and dreams, finding that a single night of sleep influences memory for the events that occurred the day before. Memories following sleep were more vivid, felt temporally closer, and were easier to recall.
Research published in JAMA Network Open found that college graduates experienced faster cognitive decline after a stroke compared to those with less education. The study highlights the importance of identifying patients at high risk for post-stroke cognitive decline to target future interventions.
New study finds that limitations on working memory exist due to learning, rather than capacity, and shed light on dopamine-related disorders like Parkinson's, ADHD, and schizophrenia. By understanding this process, clinicians may adopt different treatment options for patients with these conditions.
Research reveals that even short-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter air pollution impairs cognitive functions such as selective attention and emotion recognition. This study highlights the urgent need for stricter air quality regulations and public health measures to combat the harmful effects of pollution on brain health.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that heavy cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during working memory tasks, associated with worse performance. Abstaining from cannabis before cognitive tasks may help improve performance.
A study of young adults found that heavy lifetime cannabis use is associated with negative outcomes on working memory tasks. These findings suggest potential long-lasting effects of cannabis use on brain function.
A new study suggests that exercise can improve cognitive performance for up to 24 hours after a single day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The study found that participants who spent more time being active and had better sleep quality performed better in memory tests the next day.
Athletes exhibit improved working memory performance compared to non-athletes, with the advantage more pronounced in sedentary populations.
Researchers examined 25 astronauts' cognitive performance over a 6-month ISS mission and found slower processing speed, working memory, and attention, but accuracy remained intact. No significant cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative decline was observed after the mission.
A team of researchers led by Jeff Zacks used computer models to analyze over 25 hours of video footage of people performing everyday tasks. They found that the models were most accurate when responding to uncertainty, suggesting a more complex role for prediction errors in human cognition. Additionally, another researcher, Maverick Smi...
A new study found that fampridine can improve working memory in individuals with reduced cognitive function, particularly those with low baseline working memory levels. The drug increased brain excitability and enabled faster processing of stimuli.
Research finds that adults outperform children in learning new motor skills, with older individuals improving faster and retaining skills longer. Better sleep appears to benefit children's learning and memory more, but other factors like sleep deprivation may also play a role.
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.
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.
A new study found that HDL particle quality declines over time in women after menopause, increasing risk of episodic memory loss. Women with smaller, more functional HDL particles are less likely to experience cognitive decline.
Aging brains struggle to clear out outdated information, leading to slower processing and more frequent forgetfulness. Beta-band neural oscillations play a crucial role in regulating working memory, with older adults showing a stronger link between these oscillations and their ability to delete irrelevant information.
A recent study from the University of Surrey found that adults with Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder) exhibit lower math performance compared to neurotypical peers. The research highlights the crucial role of working memory in math tasks for individuals with DCD, suggesting a need for tailored educational approaches.
Researchers found that varied cognitive training, not repetition, primed older adults to learn a new working memory task. Participants who practiced with multiple working memory activities showed the most improvement on reading span assessments, outperforming those who rehearsed the same task for all four weeks.
Researchers at Boston University created an AI tool that can determine the cause of dementia using commonly collected patient data, boosting doctor accuracy by 26%. The algorithm identifies 10 types of dementia, including vascular and frontotemporal dementia, to help doctors manage patients more effectively.
A Cornell University study finds that sleep resets vital brain function by silencing certain parts of the hippocampus, allowing neurons to reset and enable new learning. This mechanism could lead to breakthroughs in boosting memory and erasing negative memories in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and PTSD.
A UCLA researcher identified a compound that effectively jumpstarts the brain's memory circuitry, restoring cognitive functions in mice with Alzheimer's disease symptoms. The molecule, DDL-920, works by targeting specific neurons to enhance gamma oscillations, which are critical for memory and cognition.
Mayo Clinic scientists have established criteria for a memory-loss syndrome in older adults that specifically impacts the brain's limbic system. The syndrome, called Limbic-predominant Amnestic Neurodegenerative Syndrome (LANS), progresses more slowly and has a better prognosis than Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers discovered that young adults with higher levels of inflammation were more likely to experience reduced cognitive function in midlife. Higher inflammation was associated with lower performance on skills testing and differences in executive functioning.
A study published in Neurology found that people who give birth to infants less than 5.5 pounds may be more likely to experience memory and thinking problems later in life. The association was equivalent to one to two years of aging for those with low-birth-weight deliveries.
A Finnish study found that adolescents with higher blood pressure and arterial stiffness exhibit poorer cognitive functions, particularly attention and learning. The study also reveals interesting sex differences in the associations between blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and cognition in adolescents.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University researchers found that people tend to underutilize their visual working memory, retaining only one item in most cases. This discovery sheds light on how VWM is used in real-life situations and may affect performance in tasks.
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.
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.
Neurons exhibit 'mixed selectivity,' integrating multiple inputs and computations, ensuring focused cognition. The brain employs mechanisms like oscillations and neuromodulators to recruit neurons and tune them to relevant information.
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.
A culturally-responsive training intervention based on science of reading and math improved comprehension, visualization, and connection-making skills among 66 third-grade English language learners. The program enhanced students' performance in math by utilizing direct and explicit teaching methods, focusing on key cognitive concepts.
Researchers have developed a network model that replicates the experimental findings of how short-term history effects lead to central tendency bias in working memory. The model shows that neural circuits can give rise to both recency and central tendency biases at the same time through a single mechanism.
A new study found that better heart health in middle-aged Black women is linked to reduced cognitive decline and preserved brain function. However, this benefit was not observed among white women. The study suggests that taking care of one's heart may have a positive impact on brain function and overall well-being.
A recent study published in Attention, Perception & Psychophysics found a correlation between pupil dilation and working memory. Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington discovered that individuals with better working memory had larger pupil dilations during tasks, indicating improved focus and attention.
The study suggests that understanding brain rhythms is critical for developing effective treatments for neurological disorders like schizophrenia, epilepsy, and Parkinson's. Cognition emerges from the coordinated activity of millions of neurons via electric fields, known as brain waves or rhythms.
Researchers discovered a group of neurons that help coordinate brain focus and storage functions for short-term information retention. These 'category' and 'phase-amplitude coupling' (PAC) neurons work together to enhance recall, offering new insights into Alzheimer's and ADHD treatments.
Researchers found that the SYNGAP1 gene has a dual function in regulating synapses and synaptic plasticity, which may lead to new treatments for children with SYNGAP1 mutations. The study suggests that targeting just one aspect of SynGAP's function is not enough to have a significant impact.
A UCLA Health study suggests Kundalini yoga can improve cognitive function, memory and brain health for postmenopausal women. The study found that yoga prevented brain matter decline, reversed aging and inflammation-associated biomarkers – improvements not seen in a group who received standard memory training exercises.
A study published in Brain Injury found that processing speed deficits significantly impair delayed verbal recall and overall memory in people with acquired brain injuries. Researchers recommend cognitive rehabilitation techniques to improve processing speed and enhance quality of life.
A NTU Singapore study found that ageing alters brain cells' communication, leading to weakening connections and poorer memory in middle-aged mice. The research suggests strengthening these connections through memory training may delay age-related working memory decline.
Researchers found that brain waves are slower in deep cortical layers and faster in superficial layers, with gamma waves dominating the topmost layers. These oscillations may play a fundamental role in brain function and contribute to disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
A new study led by Dr. Richard Naud of the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine tackles the mystery of neuronal response variability, controlling output with dendrites' inputs to the core and little antennas
Researchers at UC Davis found that men with FMR1 premutation who experienced reduced executive function were at higher likelihood of developing fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Executive function challenges, particularly working memory and organization issues, were strongly associated with the development of FXTAS.