ScienceDaily: Memory News

Fishing for memories: How long-term memories are processed to guide behavior

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery. By observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers have visualized for the first time how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices.

New drug reverses memory deficits and slows Alzheimer's in mice

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:24:24 EDT

A drug known as J147 reverses memory deficits and slows Alzheimer's disease in aged mice following short-term treatment. The findings may pave the way to a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease in humans.

Serotonin mediates exercise-induced generation of new neurons

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:09:09 EDT

Mice that exercise in running wheels exhibit increased neurogenesis in the brain. Crucial to this process is serotonin signaling. Surprisingly, mice lacking brain serotonin due to a genetic mutation exhibited normal baseline neurogenesis. However, in these serotonin-deficient mice, activity-induced proliferation was impaired, and wheel running did not induce increased generation of new neurons.

Older adults' memory lapses linked to problems processing everyday events

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:46:46 EDT

Some memory problems common to older adults may stem from an inability to segment daily life into discrete experiences, according to a new study.

Increases in heart disease risk factors may decrease brain function

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:54:54 EDT

Increases in heart disease risk factors may decrease brain function. The association between the two was noted in young and middle-age adults as well as the elderly. Smoking and diabetes were especially linked with reduced brain function.

Mediterranean diet linked to preserving memory

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

A new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes consuming foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, chicken and salad dressing, and avoiding saturated fats, meat and dairy foods, may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities.

Novel approach to find RNAs involved in long-term memory storage

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Scientists have developed a novel strategy for isolating and characterizing a substantial number of RNAs transported from the cell-body of neuron (nerve cell) to the synapse, the small gap separating neurons that enables cell to cell communication.

Clenching right fist may give better grip on memory

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:51:51 EDT

Clenching your right hand may help form a stronger memory of an event or action, and clenching your left may help you recollect the memory later, according to new research.

Gone, but not forgotten: Scientists recall EP, perhaps the world’s second-most famous amnesiac

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Neuroscientists have described for the first time, in exhaustive detail, the underlying neurobiology of an amnesiac who suffered from profound memory loss after damage to key portions of his brain.

Sporting events: Clear your memory to pick a winner

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Predicting the winner of a sporting event with accuracy close to that of a statistical computer program could be possible with proper training, according to researchers.

Stem cell transplant restores memory, learning in mice

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:16:16 EDT

For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been transformed into nerve cells that helped mice regain the ability to learn and remember.

Video games: Bad or good for your memory?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:47:47 EDT

After the horrific shooting sprees at Columbine High School in 1999 and Virginia Tech in 2007, players of violent video games, such as First Person Shooter (FPS) games, have often been accused in the media of being impulsive, antisocial, or aggressive.

Scientists reverse memory loss in animal brain cells

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:44:44 EDT

Neuroscientists have taken a major step in their efforts to help people with memory loss tied to brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Memory, the adolescent brain and lying: The limits of neuroscientific evidence in the law

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EDT

Brain scans are increasingly able to reveal whether you believe you remember some person or event in your life. In a new study, researchers used fMRI brain scans to detect whether a person recognized scenes from their own lives, as captured in some 45,000 images by digital cameras. The study is seeking to test the capabilities and limits of brain-based technology for detecting memories, a technique being considered for use in legal settings.

Forage longer for berries, study on age-related memory decline suggests

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

Like birds which stop foraging too early on a berry-laden bush, a new study suggests older people struggle to recall items because they flit too often between ‘patches’ in their memories.

Training the brain to improve on new tasks

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:24:24 EDT

A brain-training task that increases the number of items an individual can remember over a short period of time may boost performance in other problem-solving tasks by enhancing communication between different brain areas. The new study is one of a growing number of experiments on how working-memory training can measurably improve a range of skills -- from multiplying in your head to reading a complex paragraph.

Drug could improve working memory of people with autism, study finds

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:24:24 EDT

Investigators found that propranolol, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety and panic, improves the working memory performance of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

No evidence drugs, vitamins, supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:14:14 EDT

A review has found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults.

Musicians who learn a new melody demonstrate enhanced skill after a night's sleep

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

A new study examining how the brain learns and retains motor skills provides insight into musical skill. Musicians who practiced and learned a new melody and were tested on it again after a night's sleep showed enhanced learning, says a researcher. The study found, however, that when two similar musical pieces were practiced one after the other, followed by sleep, any gains in speed and accuracy were diminished.

Reactivating memories during sleep: Memory rehearsal during sleep can make a big difference in remembering later

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Why do some memories last a lifetime while others disappear quickly? A new study suggests that memories rehearsed, during sleep or waking, can have an impact on memory consolidation and on what is remembered later. A new study shows that when the information that makes up a memory has a high value, the memory is more likely to be rehearsed and consolidated during sleep and remembered later.

Sound stimulation during sleep can enhance memory

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Slow oscillations in brain activity, which occur during so-called slow-wave sleep, are critical for retaining memories. Researchers have found that playing sounds synchronized to the rhythm of the slow brain oscillations of people who are sleeping enhances these oscillations and boosts their memory.

Rosemary aroma may help you remember to do things

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

The aroma of rosemary essential oil may improve prospective memory in healthy adults. The findings suggest that this essential oil may enhance the ability to remember events and to remember to complete tasks at particular times in the future.

Tests to predict heart problems and stroke may be more useful predictor of memory loss than dementia tests

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:13:13 EDT

Risk prediction tools that estimate future risk of heart disease and stroke may be more useful predictors of future decline in cognitive abilities, or memory and thinking, than a dementia risk scores, according to a new study.

Brain's 'molecular memory switch' identified

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:52:52 EDT

Scientists have identified a key molecule responsible for triggering the chemical processes in our brain linked to our formation of memories. The findings reveal a new target for therapeutic interventions to reverse the devastating effects of memory loss.

Memories of near death experiences: More real than reality?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:03:03 EDT

Researchers have demonstrated that the physiological mechanisms triggered during near death experiences (NDE) lead to a more vivid perception not only of imagined events in the history of an individual but also of real events which have taken place in their lives. These surprising results – obtained using an original method -- now require further investigation.

Pesticide combination affects bees' ability to learn

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Two new studies have highlighted a negative impact on bees' ability to learn following exposure to a combination of pesticides commonly used in agriculture. The researchers found that the pesticides, used in the research at levels shown to occur in the wild, could interfere with the learning circuits in the bee's brain.

Mindfulness improves reading ability, working memory, and task-focus

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:33:33 EDT

If you think your inability to concentrate is a hopeless condition, think again -- and breathe, and focus. According to a new study, as little as two weeks of mindfulness training can significantly improve one's reading comprehension, working memory capacity, and ability to focus.

Brief mindfulness training may boost test scores, working memory

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Mindfulness training may help to boost standardized test scores and improve working memory, according to a new study.

Could that cold sore increase your risk of memory problems?

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:38:38 EDT

The virus that causes cold sores, along with other viral or bacterial infections, may be associated with cognitive problems, according to a new study.

New mechanism for long-term memory formation discovered

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:53:53 EDT

Neurobiologists have found a novel molecular mechanism that helps trigger the formation of long-term memory. The researchers believe the discovery of this mechanism adds another piece to the puzzle in the ongoing effort to uncover the mysteries of memory and, potentially, certain intellectual disabilities.

New urgency in battle against 'bound legs' disease

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:40:40 EDT

The harm done by konzo -- a disease overshadowed by the war and drought it tends to accompany -- goes beyond its devastating physical effects to impair children's memory, problem solving and other cognitive functions.

Spatial memory: Mapping blank spots in the cheeseboard maze

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:42:42 EDT

During learning, novel information is transformed into memory through the processing and encoding of information in neural circuits. Scientists have now uncovered a novel role for inhibitory interneurons in the rat hippocampus during the formation of spatial memory.

Neuroscience of finding your lost keys

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:28:28 EDT

Ever find yourself racking your brain on a Monday morning to remember where you put your car keys? When you do find those keys, you can thank the hippocampus, a brain region responsible for storing and retrieving memories of different environments -- such as that room where your keys were hiding in an unusual spot. Now, scientists have helped explain how the brain keeps track of the incredibly rich and complex environments people navigate on a daily basis.

Brain mapping reveals neurological basis of decision-making in rats

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Scientists have discovered how memory recall is linked to decision-making in rats, showing that measurable activity in one part of the brain occurs when rats in a maze are playing out memories that help them decide which way to turn. The more they play out these memories, the more likely they are to find their way correctly to the end of the maze.

Altered brain activity responsible for cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:59:59 EDT

Cognitive problems with memory and behavior experienced by individuals with schizophrenia are linked with changes in brain activity; however, it is difficult to test whether these changes are the underlying cause or consequence of these symptoms. By altering the brain activity in mice to mimic the activity seen in patients with schizophrenia, researchers reporting in the journal Neuron reveal that these changes in regional brain activity cause similar cognitive problems in otherwise normal mice.

Sleep consolidation of interfering auditory memories in starlings

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:32:32 EDT

Sleep plays an important role in the brain’s ability to consolidate learning when two new potentially competing tasks are learned in the same day, according to a new study that measured starlings' ability to recognize new songs.

Gone but not forgotten: Yearning for lost loved ones linked to altered thinking about the future

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:16:16 EDT

People suffering from complicated grief may have difficulty recalling specific events from their past or imagining specific events in the future, but not when those events involve the partner they lost, according to a new study.

Food memories can help with weight loss

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:30:30 EDT

Psychologists have found that using memories of recent meals reduces the amount of food eaten later on. It also found that being distracted when eating leads to increased consumption.

Tickling the brain with magnetic stimulation improves memory in schizophrenia

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:25:25 EDT

Cognitive impairments are disabling for individuals with schizophrenia, and no satisfactory treatments currently exist. These impairments affect a wide range of cognition, including memory, attention, verbal and motor skills, and IQ. They appear in the earliest stages of the disease and disrupt or even prevent normal day-to-day functioning. Scientists are exploring a variety of strategies to reduce these impairments including "exercising the brain" with specially designed computer games and medications that might improve the function of brain circuits.

New add-on drug may improve memory in people with moderate Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:33:33 EDT

A new drug may improve memory problems in people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease, according to a phase IIa study. The drug is called ORM-12741.

Sleep discovery could lead to therapies that improve memory

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:33:33 EDT

A team of sleep researchers has confirmed the mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate memory and found that a commonly prescribed sleep aid enhances the process.

Scientists identify buphenyl as a possible drug for Alzheimer's disease

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:37:37 EST

Studies in mice with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have shown that sodium phenylbutyrate, known as Buphenyl, successfully increases factors for neuronal growth and protects learning and memory, according to neurological researchers.

Chewing gum helps you concentrate for longer, study suggests

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:39:39 EST

Chewing gum can help you stay focused for longer on tasks that require continuous monitoring. Previous research has shown that chewing gum can improve concentration in visual memory tasks. This study focused on the potential benefits of chewing gum during an audio memory task.

Using human brain cells to make mice smarter

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:39:39 EST

What happens when human brain cells that surround and support neurons are implanted into the brains of newborn mice? Researchers recently found that such mice had enhanced learning and memory when compared with normal mice that hadn't received the transplanted human cells. The findings indicate that these supportive cells, called glia, play an important role in human cognition.

Test-taking may improve learning in people of all ages

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:03:03 EST

Older adults who haven’t been in school for a while are as capable of learning from tests as younger adults and college students, according to new research.

Use it or lose it: Molecular mechanism for why a stimulating environment protects against Alzheimer's disease

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:42:42 EST

Researchers provide specific pre-clinical scientific evidence supporting the concept that prolonged and intensive stimulation by an enriched environment, especially regular exposure to new activities, may have beneficial effects in delaying one of the key negative factors in Alzheimer's disease.

Potential target to better treat, cure anxiety disorders

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:46:46 EST

Researchers have, for the first time, identified a specific group of cells in the brainstem whose activation during rapid eye movement sleep is critical for the regulation of emotional memory processing.

Novel storage mechanism allows command, control of memory

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:11:11 EST

Introductions at a party seemingly go in one ear and out the other. However, if you meet someone two or three times during the party, you are more likely to remember his or her name. Your brain has taken a short-term memory -- the introduction -- and converted it into a long-term one. The molecular key to this activity is mTORC2 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2), according to researchers.

Protein synthesis blocker may hold key to reducing effects of traumatic events

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:16:16 EST

Reducing fear and stress following a traumatic event could be as simple as providing a protein synthesis blocker to the brain, report a team of researchers in a new paper.

Changes in patterns of brain activity predict fear memory formation

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:25:25 EST

Psychologists have discovered that changes in patterns of brain activity during fearful experiences predict whether a long-term fear memory is formed.

New model could lead to improved treatment for early stage Alzheimer's

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:15:15 EST

Researchers have developed a line of genetically altered mice that model the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease. This model may help scientists identify new therapies to provide relief to patients who are beginning to experience symptoms.

Possible treatment window for memory problems identified

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:19:19 EST

Researchers have identified a possible treatment window of several years for plaques in the brain that are thought to cause memory loss in diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Trust makes you delusional and that's not all bad: Trusting partners remember transgressions in ways that benefit the relationship

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:31:31 EST

New research is the first to systematically examine the role of trust in biasing memories of transgressions in romantic partnerships. People who are highly trusting tended to remember transgressions in a way that benefits the relationship, remembering partner transgressions as less severe than they originally reported. People low on trust demonstrated the opposite pattern, remembering partner transgressions as being more severe than how they originally reported.

Discovery on animal memory opens doors to research on memory impairment diseases

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:59:59 EST

A new study offers the first evidence of source memory in a nonhuman animal. The findings have fascinating implications, both in evolutionary terms and for future research into the biological underpinnings of memory, as well as the treatment of diseases marked by memory failure such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, or disorders such as schizophrenia, PTSD and depression.

Ability to recognize emotions in others impaired by AIDS

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:38:38 EST

People with HIV are less able to recognise facial emotion than non-infected people finds a new study. Reduction in their ability to recognize fear in others is linked to a similar loss in immediate recall, while those with a lower general neurocognitive performance also had a reduced ability to recognize happiness.

Linking insulin to learning: Insulin-like molecules play critical role in learning and memory

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:28:28 EST

Though it's most often associated with disorders like diabetes, scientists have shown how the pathway of insulin and insulin-like peptides plays another critical role in the body -- helping to regulate learning and memory.

Sleep reinforces learning: Children’s brains transform subconsciously learned material into active knowledge

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:11:11 EST

During sleep, our brains store what we have learned during the day -- a process even more effective in children than in adults, new research shows.

Memory strategy may help depressed people remember the good times

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:20:20 EST

New research highlights a memory strategy that may help people who suffer from depression in recalling positive day-to-day experiences.

Small groups of brain cells store concepts for memory formation -- from Luke Skywalker to your grandmother

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:30:30 EST

Concepts in our minds -- from Luke Skywalker to our grandmother -- are represented by their own distinct group of neurons, according to new research.

Scientists make older adults less forgetful in memory tests

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:39:39 EST

Scientists have found compelling evidence that older adults can eliminate forgetfulness and perform as well as younger adults on memory tests. The cognitive boost comes from a surprising source -- a distraction learning strategy.