Latest

Memory

This shows an older person using a smart phone reminder app.

·October 24, 2024·4 min read

Reminders Reduce Age-Related Memory Decline in Older Adults

A new study shows that using reminders can counteract age-related declines in memory, especially for tasks that require prospective memory, such as taking medication. Researchers found that reminders help both younger and older adults improve memory performance under high cognitive load.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 21, 2024·3 min read

Why PTSD Develops in Some but Not Others

Fear memories initially form broad associations, but over time, they shift to become episodic memories tied to specific timelines. This process involves the hippocampus early on, with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex integrating the event sequence later.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 18, 2024·5 min read

Mosaic Brain Evolution Drives Learning in Tropical Butterfly

Researchers have discovered that Heliconius butterflies, known for feeding on both nectar and pollen, show mosaic brain evolution with specialized neural expansions linked to enhanced learning and memory abilities. This expansion occurs in specific brain structures called mushroom bodies, which are key for long-term visual memory and spatial learning.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 14, 2024·6 min read

Cerebellum Plays Crucial Role in Skill Retention and Memory

New research uncovers that the cerebellum is critical for long-term motor skill memory formation, distinguishing it from short-term memory systems. Patients with cerebellar damage showed normal performance on motor tasks over short intervals but were impaired with longer gaps, linking the cerebellum directly to long-term sensorimotor memory. These findings resolve inconsistencies in prior studies and highlight the importance of time intervals in understanding motor memory degradation in cerebellar degeneration.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 14, 2024·5 min read

When Dogs and Humans Connect, So Do Their Brainwaves

Research reveals that dogs’ and humans’ brain activity can synchronize when they gaze into each other’s eyes. Known as neural coupling, this phenomenon has been seen in interactions within species, but observing it between different species highlights the unique human-dog bond.

This shows the shadow of a dad and child.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 12, 2024·5 min read

Reflecting on Parents in Therapy Can Shift Childhood Memories

New research suggests that reflecting on a parent in therapy can subtly alter how a person recalls feelings from childhood, even if the question is neutral. This process, known as reappraisal, may lead individuals to adjust their emotions or perceptions toward a parent, with potential long-term effects on family dynamics. In one experiment, participants were asked to remember positive or negative attributes of their mothers, which notably impacted their current and past feelings.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 9, 2024·6 min read

How Brain Cells Identify Smells and Related Images

A recent study reveals that specific brain cells respond not only to smells but also to images and written words related to those scents, providing deeper insight into human odor perception. Researchers found that neurons in the olfactory cortex and other brain regions, like the hippocampus and amygdala, distinguish between different smells and associate them with visual cues. This research, using data from epilepsy patients, bridges a gap between animal and human studies on olfactory processing.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 7, 2024·6 min read

Are Digital Memories Enhancing or Altering Our Autobiographical Past?

Digital technology has transformed how we document and recall life experiences, from capturing every moment with photos to tracking our health data on smart devices. This increased density of digital records offers potential benefits, like enhancing memory for personal events or supporting those with memory impairments. However, it also raises concerns, such as privacy risks and the potential for manipulation through technologies like deepfakes. Researchers emphasize the need for further study to understand both the opportunities and risks posed by digital memory aids as they become more integral to how we remember.

This shows the outline of a person and COVID.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 4, 2024·6 min read

COVID-19 Affects Memory and Cognition for Up to a Year

Healthy adults who contracted COVID-19 had subtle but measurable declines in memory and cognitive performance lasting up to a year. These differences were found through sensitive testing under controlled conditions, though all scores remained within normal ranges, and none of the participants reported lasting cognitive symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 1, 2024·5 min read

Researchers Reactivate Memory Circuits in Mice to Trigger Shelter-Seeking

Researchers have successfully reactivated memory circuits in mice, causing them to seek shelter even when no shelter was present. By stimulating neurons linked to spatial memory, the team activated a previous memory of shelter-seeking behavior.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 26, 2024·4 min read

Reversible Brain Mechanism Explains Memory Loss from Drug Abuse

Scientists have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that explains how drugs like methamphetamine and PCP impair cognitive functions, particularly memory. The study shows that these drugs trigger neurotransmitter switching in the cerebral cortex, where excitatory glutamate neurons switch to inhibitory GABA neurons, leading to memory deficits. Interestingly, researchers were able to reverse this switch and restore memory performance in mice using molecular tools and the antipsychotic drug clozapine. This discovery could pave the way for developing therapies to counteract drug-induced cognitive impairments and other brain disorders.

This shows a brain and a person playing piano.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 26, 2024·4 min read

Study Links Hippocampus to Control of Skilled Movements

The hippocampus, traditionally linked to memory, also plays a crucial role in skilled actions like typing, handwriting, and playing music. This study challenges the long-held belief that motor skills are exclusively managed by motor regions like the basal ganglia and cerebellum.