Tag: memory

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: eLife (2024)

Exposure to higher levels of light can help people feel more awake and increase cognitive performance, probably by influencing the activity of parts of a brain region called the hypothalamus, according to new research.

Researchers have developed a new tool to better understand how chemicals like dopamine and epinephrine interact with neurons.

Bursts of brain rhythms with “beta” frequencies control where and when neurons in the cortex process sensory information and plan responses. Studying these bursts would improve understanding of cognition and clinical disorders, researchers argue in a new review.

Why do we move slower the older we get? A new study delivers answers.

People with a history of cognitively stimulating occupations during their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia after age 70, according to a new study. The findings highlight the importance of cognitive stimulation during midlife for maintaining cognitive function in old age.

An inpatient, epilepsy-related rehabilitation program shows lasting effects on several aspects of adaptation to epilepsy and quality of life, according to a study published in the journal Epilepsia.

A recent study reveals that high body mass index (BMI) is associated with changes in physiological brain pulsations. These pulsations play a crucial role in maintaining brain fluid circulation and the clearance of metabolic waste from the brain.

Researchers have discovered that a high single dose of dietary supplement creatine can temporarily improve cognitive performance that is reduced by sleep deprivation.

Engaging in conversation with others can activate various brain functions in socially isolated older adults, even if the interactions occur via the internet. This finding comes from a recent clinical trial conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital, with the results published in The Gerontologist.

A new study suggests a common brain network exists between heart rate deceleration and depression.

Neuroscientists have revealed that recency bias in working memory naturally leads to central tendency bias, the phenomenon where people’s (and animals’) judgements are biased towards the average of previous observations. Their findings may hint at why the phenomenon is so ubiquitous.

A new study has found that a brain network condition called “explosive synchronization” could be the cause of extreme pain crises in people with sickle cell disease.

Researchers have developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibers without damaging them. These devices could be used for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of disorders, including epilepsy and chronic pain, or the control of prosthetic limbs.

Scientists have discovered the mechanism that allows adult brain stem cells to express genes that maintain their identity and those for neuronal differentiation without conflicts in cellular activity.

A new study aims to examine the role of napping in brain development among infants and preschoolers. By tracking changes in the hippocampus, the research aims to prove how critical naps are for memory retention and brain growth in young children.

Finally this week, neuroscientists have confirmed that different strategies are employed when choosing between primary and secondary rewards, with impulsivity being a key factor.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Vertex-wise comparisons between ADHD (N = 60) and controls (N = 23), and between ADHD responders (N = 42) and non-responders (N = 18). Credit: Nature Mental Health (2024).

New research has found that the effectiveness of ADHD medication may be associated with an individual’s neuroanatomy.

Although there are still some aspects pending confirmation for its use in the clinical setting, and its resolution needs to be improved slightly, a new study has shown that a method routinely used to carry out ophthalmological tests can also be used to monitor the neurodegeneration that occurs in Parkinson’s patients.

Scientists have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that allows cocaine and morphine to take over natural reward processing systems.

New research has identified a specific pattern of autoantibodies in the blood that precedes the clinical onset of multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially paving the way for early diagnosis and treatment. Their study found that 10% of MS patients displayed a unique set of autoantibodies against both human proteins and common pathogens like the Epstein-Barr Virus years before showing symptoms.

Researchers have identified a promising new approach to treating persistent neurological symptoms associated with Lyme disease.

A new study investigates why everyday actions like locking a door are often forgotten. The study revealed that while emotionally charged or unique events are initially memorable, even these can fade within 24 hours, particularly positive experiences. This research provides insight into the selective nature of memory and suggests that our brains prioritize and even forget information to manage cognitive load.

Managing a stroke patient’s blood sugar levels after they receive powerful clot-busting drugs might help them survive their health crisis, a new trial finds.

Researchers have created a thin film that combines an electrode grid and LEDs that can both track and produce a visual representation of the brain’s activity in real time during surgery. The device is designed to provide neurosurgeons with visual information about a patient’s brain to monitor brain states during surgical interventions to remove brain lesions including tumors and epileptic tissue.

A new study identifies a new metric for diagnosing autism.

New research has found a significant association between participating in low to moderate intensity exercise and reduced rates of depression.  However, this was not strongly observed for high-intensity exercise. Physical activity was also significantly associated with reduced risk of severe mental health conditions, including a reduction in psychosis/schizophrenia by 27%.

An international collaborative research team has discovered a novel mechanism underlying memory involving rapid changes in a specific DNA structure.

People who take acid-reducing drugs may have a higher risk of migraine and other severe headache than people who do not take these medications, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology Clinical Practice. 

Finally this week, new research has highlighted the profound link between dietary choices and brain health.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Findings from a mega-analysis of differences in seed-based subcortico-cortical connectivity in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and unaffected control subjects. Credit: American Journal of Psychiatry (2024). 

Researchers have discovered that symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are tied to atypical interactions between the brain’s frontal cortex and information-processing centers deep in the brain.

A new study has identified a genetic mutation underlying a rare form of epilepsy and reveals novel molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the disorder manifests in patients.

For the first time, researchers have shown that non-invasive brain stimulation can change a specific brain mechanism directly related to human behavior. This is a major step forward for discovering new therapies to treat brain disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

A test that shows how good or bad we are at perceiving the rhythm of language can predict the ability to acquire language, and may also help us understand individual differences in brain biology.

A new study reveals the mechanisms behind proprioception, our body’s innate ability to sense limb position and movement, critical for movement without visual cues. Utilizing musculoskeletal simulations and neural network models, researchers have advanced our understanding of how the brain integrates sensory data from muscle spindles to perceive bodily position and motion.

Specialized brain scans may accurately predict whether a psychotic patient will go on to develop treatment-resistant schizophrenia, Dutch researchers report.

Researchers have uncovered a significant correlation between social isolation and accelerated biological aging, indicating that individuals with limited social connections are at a higher risk of premature mortality.

Scientists have revealed new insights into how the brain processes speech and listening during conversations through advanced investigations using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

A unique multicenter study, including about 3,500 youth between 10 and 25 years old from across the globe, shows that artificial intelligence—specifically machine learning—can identify individuals with anxiety disorders based on their unique brain structure.

Researchers have identified four distinct sleep patterns linked to long-term health outcomes, revealing the profound impact of sleep habits on chronic health conditions.

A new study uncovers the nuanced effects of spaced learning on memory, emphasizing the importance of the content’s variability and the intervals between learning sessions. The study contrasts the impact of learning identical content versus content with variations, across different timescales, on memory retention.

Finally, this week, spending quality time with dogs reduces stress and increases the power of brain waves associated with relaxation and concentration, according to a recent study.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Microscopic photos observed through changes of the flourescence of the synapse sensor (SynapShot) by cultivating the neurons of an experimental rat and expressing the SynapShot. The changes in the synapse that is created when the pre- and post-synaptic terminals come into contact and the synapse that disappears after a certain period of time are measured by the fluorescence of the SynapShot. Credit: KAIST Optogenetics & RNA therapeutics Lab

New research has observed the processes of memory and cognition in real-time.

A new study reveals significant findings in the fight against Long Covid. Through a comprehensive analysis of blood serum from 113 patients, researchers discovered changes in blood serum proteins related to the complement system, coagulation, and tissue injury in Long Covid patients.

New research has found that exercising both before and after learning optimizes memory formation, with a notable 10% improvement in remembering motor skills.

A new study employs generative AI to shed light on how the human brain processes memories for learning, imagination, and planning. The study used a computational model resembling the hippocampus and neocortex’s neural networks to simulate memory encoding and retrieval.

A new study has reported that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, can infect dopamine neurons in the brain and trigger senescence—when a cell loses the ability to grow and divide.

Researchers have taken the first steps to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes by creating multiple patent-pending compounds shown to inhibit protein aggregation associated with those diseases.

A neuroscientific study is paving the way for improving the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s.

A new study reveals limitations in the current use of mathematical models for personalized medicine, particularly in schizophrenia treatment. Although these models can predict patient outcomes in specific clinical trials, they fail when applied to different trials, challenging the reliability of AI-driven algorithms in diverse settings.

Research into the nature of memory reveals how cells that store information are stabilized over time.

A new study explores how infants and toddlers acquire language. Findings reveal early comprehension begins around 6-7 months, and significant improvements in language understanding occur around a child’s first birthday.

New research looks at ways to predict when a migraine attack will occur.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found overactivation in many brain regions, including the frontal and parietal lobes and the amygdala, in unmedicated children with anxiety disorders. They also showed that treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) led to improvements in clinical symptoms and brain functioning.

An international research has proposed a new model for classifying Parkinson’s disease.

A ribbon of brain tissue called cortical gray matter grows thinner in people who go on to develop dementia, and this appears to be an accurate biomarker of the disease five to 10 years before symptoms appear, scientists report.

3D bioprinting sheds light on why blood vessel curvature may foster brain cancer metastasis.

Researchers achieved a significant advancement in robotics by replicating human-like variable speed walking using a musculoskeletal model. This model, steered by a reflex control method akin to the human nervous system, enhances our understanding of human locomotion and sets new standards for robotic technology.

There is a difference between how the brains of healthy older adults perceive color compared to younger adults, finds a new study.

Researchers conducted a study to explore the neuroscientific basis of fairness in social situations, investigating the interplay between personal interests and societal norms. By applying electric brain stimulation to 60 participants, the researchers pinpointed specific brain regions crucial to fairness decisions.

Finally this week, scientists have made a significant discovery using an artificial neural network model, suggesting that musical instinct may emerge naturally from the human brain.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Three experiments to test how dopamine affects cognitive performance during acute exercise. Credit: The Journal of Physiology (2024)

A study exploring the mechanisms behind why cognitive performance improves in response to exercise, has found that dopamine plays a key role.

Researchers have discovered that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) develop distinct attentional preferences compared to typically developing children, focusing more on non-social stimuli like objects and textures.

Brain structure predicts treatment response to antidepressant and placebo medications, according to a new study.

Recent research contrasts the learning mechanisms of the human brain with those of deep learning in AI. Despite having fewer layers and slower, noisier dynamics, the brain can perform complex classification tasks as effectively as AI with hundreds of layers.

A new study uncovers a unique aspect of human memory: our ability to recall events is sharper after experiencing negative emotions.

A major clinical trial has shown that by using MRI and tracking to guide the delivery of magnetic stimulation to the brains of people with severe depression, patients will see their symptoms ease for at least six months, which could vastly improve their quality of life.

New research reveals that coming off antidepressants like Prozac can cause not only physical symptoms but also emotional, cognitive, and social difficulties.

Through transcriptomic profiling of more than 300,000 cells in human substantia nigra, a part of the brain that helps control the body’s movements, a research team has identified a previously unreported neuron type with vulnerability in Parkinson’s disease. This novel finding could help explain the complexity of the disease symptoms and direct new therapeutics development.

Researchers have found evidence suggesting that children exposed to elevated levels of early life adversity exhibit an accelerated pattern of brain development during the preschool years.

New research for the first time reveals the function of a little-understood junction between cells in the brain that could have important treatment implications for conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to Alzheimer’s disease, to a type of brain cancer known as glioma.

Finally this week, a third major study finds that multivitamin supplements improve memory and slow cognitive aging in older adults.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: Nature Neuroscience (2024)

A new study has identified a neural coding mechanism that allows the transfer of information back and forth between perceptual regions to memory areas of the brain. The results are published in Nature Neuroscience.

Perceived time has a significant impact on the actual time it takes to heal physical wounds, according to new research.

Researchers have identified a wide range of risk factors for young-onset dementia. The findings challenge the notion that genetics are the sole cause of the condition, laying the groundwork for new prevention strategies.

Scientists have uncovered a key brain pathway mediating panic disorder symptoms.

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking synaptic transistor inspired by the human brain. This device can simultaneously process and store information, mimicking the brain’s capacity for higher-level thinking.

People who have more disrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s may be more likely to have memory and thinking problems a decade later, according to new research published in Neurology. 

With help from an artificial language network, neuroscientists have discovered what kind of sentences are most likely to fire up the brain’s key language processing centers. The new study reveals that more complex sentences, either because of unusual grammar or unexpected meaning, generate stronger responses in these language processing centers. Very straightforward sentences barely engage these regions, and nonsensical sequences of words don’t do much for them either.

Finally this week, scientists have identified a molecular anchor that stabilizes mitochondria near synapses to support memory formation.

The Surprising Power of Forgetfulness

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This video explores the storage, suppression, and rekindling of memories, drawing upon groundbreaking research from Trinity College Dublin.

In pursuit of perfect memory, we tend to categorize forgetfulness as a sign of cognitive weakness. However, emerging research suggests a paradigm shift in our understanding of memory and forgetfulness. In contrast to popular belief, forgetting is not a sign of a faulty memory, but rather the brain orchestrating a purposeful act to optimize our cognitive abilities.

This shift could revolutionize the way we perceive memory and its role in our daily lives. Instead of viewing forgetfulness as a shortcoming, it could be seen as a strategic mechanism, honed by evolution to filter and prioritize information. Imagine the implications this could have on education, where traditional methods often emphasize rote memorization. If forgetting is indeed a natural and adaptive process, educators might need to reconsider their approach to learning and information retention.

Furthermore, the understanding of forgetting and its purpose can hold profound implications for disciplines such as psychology and neurology. Expanding our comprehension of the mechanisms and functions of forgetting may serve to reshape the approaches taken toward memory-related disorders and therapeutic interventions. This, in turn, could potentially open up new avenues for research and treatment, propelling advancements in these crucial fields.

Neuroplasticity at Work
Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, plays a pivotal role in understanding the purposeful nature of forgetfulness. In a world where information overload is a daily reality, the brain must prioritize and organize data to function efficiently. This remarkable ability allows the brain to filter out irrelevant information and focus on what’s essential. The brain’s plasticity enables it to form new neural connections and reorganize existing ones, facilitating adaptation to new environments and learning new skills. Understanding the brain’s capacity for adaptation and prioritization sheds light on its incredible resilience and capability to thrive in diverse and demanding circumstances.

Learning from Mistakes
Forgetfulness also serves as a valuable tool in learning from our mistakes. It allows us to filter out the less important information and retain only the most crucial lessons from our experiences. This process of selective forgetfulness aids in simplifying complex situations and extracting the key takeaways, ultimately contributing to a more refined learning process. By discarding superfluous details, our minds are better equipped to discern patterns and identify the core factors that contributed to specific outcomes. This, in turn, empowers us to make more informed decisions in the future and navigate similar situations more effectively. It’s fascinating to consider how our brains have evolved this adaptive mechanism to optimize the learning process and enable us to continuously improve our responses to various challenges.

The Role of Emotions
Emotions play a significant role in the encoding and retrieval of memories. The brain tends to retain emotionally charged experiences more vividly, while less emotionally significant details may fade away. Forgetfulness, therefore, is not an indiscriminate process but rather a nuanced response influenced by the emotional context of our memories. This phenomenon highlights the interconnectedness of our emotional experiences and memory formation. The amygdala, a key player in processing emotions, is closely linked to the encoding and storage of emotional memories. When we encounter a particularly emotional event, the amygdala sends a signal to the hippocampus, a region crucial for forming new memories, enhancing the vividness and strengthening the imprint of that experience in our minds.

Understanding the impact of emotions on memory not only provides insight into the workings of the human mind but also has practical implications. For instance, educators can leverage emotionally charged experiences to enhance students’ retention of material. Similarly, in therapeutic settings, acknowledging the emotional context of memories is essential to address and process traumatic experiences effectively.

In reevaluating our understanding of forgetfulness, it becomes clear that our brains are not simply fallible machines prone to glitches. Instead, forgetfulness is a purposeful act orchestrated by our brains to optimize cognitive function in an ever-changing environment. When we consider the concept of forgetfulness in this light, we start to recognize the remarkable abilities of our brains to prioritize and adapt in response to the constant influx of new information and experiences. Rather than viewing forgetfulness as a shortcoming, we can appreciate it as a strategic process that allows our minds to maintain efficiency and relevance in a dynamic reality. This perspective invites us to explore the interplay between forgetting and remembering, shedding light on the delicate balance that sustains our cognitive prowess.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42088-7

A team of international neuroscientists has obtained the first direct recordings of the human brain in the minutes before and after a brain hub crucial for language meaning was surgically disconnected. The results reveal the importance of brain hubs in neural networks and the remarkable way in which the human brain attempts to compensate when a hub is lost, with immediacy not previously observed.

A new study, published in Cell Reports, describes a novel molecular link between vitamin B12 and multiple sclerosis that takes place in astrocytes—important non-neuronal glial cells in the brain.

Australian researchers have flagged potential concerns over the use of social chatbots, calling for more studies into the impact of AI software on neurodiverse people and those who find human interaction difficult.

An exploratory study has shown that light, regular exercise can improve the cognitive as well as physical health of adults with Down syndrome.

Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have examined the brains of 16 patients previously hospitalised for COVID-19 with persisting symptoms. They have found differences in brain tissue structure between patients with persisting symptoms after COVID-19 and healthy people.

Scientists have discovered a new way a ribonucleic acid (RNA) impacts fear-related learning and memory.

Comparing PET scans of more than 90 adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI), researchers say relatively lower levels of the so-called “happiness” chemical, serotonin, in parts of the brain of those with MCI may play a role in memory problems including Alzheimer’s disease.

A new study reveals a significant association between adverse childhood experiences and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia in adolescents and young adults.

Using electrochemical techniques and machine learning, scientists measured dopamine levels in real time during a computer game involving rewards and penalties. The findings shed light on the intricate role of dopamine in human behavior and could have implications for understanding psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Researchers have identified a potential treatment target for a genetic type of epilepsy.

A new study sheds light on the significant role of patients’ beliefs in the effectiveness of neurostimulation treatments for conditions like depression and ADHD. Analyzing five studies, the research team found that patients’ perceptions of receiving real or placebo treatments often had more impact on outcomes than the treatments themselves.

New research has found that smoking causes the brain to shrink and age prematurely, a condition not reversible even after quitting smoking.

Researchers have discovered a key player in alcohol addiction: pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP). This peptide, found in the “bed nucleus of the stria terminalis” (BNST), is linked to heavy alcohol drinking and withdrawal.

Finally this week, new research reveals that moderate exercise improves cognitive performance even under conditions of sleep deprivation and low oxygen levels.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: eLife (2023)

Researchers have investigated the shared and unique neural processes that underlie different types of long-term memory: general semantic, personal semantic, and episodic memory, suggesting that these memory types all use the same network of the brain, rather than relying on different areas of the brain altogether. This questions a previous theory that characterizes general semantic and episodic memory as two distinct systems. Instead, the authors suggest that different long-term memory types could be viewed as a spectrum, where they rely on activating the same areas of the brain at differing magnitudes.

Scientists can now pinpoint where someone’s eyes are looking just by listening to their ears.

Using a specialized device that translates images into sound, neuroscientists have shown that people who are blind recognize basic faces using the part of the brain known as the fusiform face area, a region that is crucial for the processing of faces in sighted people.

People with long COVID exhibit patterns of changes in the brain that are different from fully recovered COVID-19 patients, according to new research.

What is the mechanism that allows our brains to incorporate new information about the world, and form memories? New work led by Dr. Tomás Ryan from Trinity College Dublin shows that learning occurs through the continuous formation of new connectivity patterns between specific engram cells in different regions of the brain.

New research indicates that acoustic stimulation of the brain may ease persistent symptoms in individuals who have experienced mild traumatic brain injury in the past.

Scientists have discovered that Alzheimer’s-related changes in brain networks extend beyond memory and attention, impacting sensory and motor circuits. These findings challenge previous assumptions about Alzheimer’s effects.

A pivotal discovery in addiction science has found a correlation between microstructural deficits in the prefrontal cortex-habenula tract and the development and maintenance of addiction.

Researchers have unveiled a pioneering technique for charting the intricate conversations occurring within our brains. Such insights are key to decoding behavioral alterations in neurological disease patients. The innovative tool, CaMPARI, allows scientists to witness brain activity in real-time, marking active neurons red and inactive ones green. This breakthrough could offer pathways to better treatments and understanding of diseases like Alzheimer’s.

A team of neuroscientists has found evidence suggesting that the neural development of babies still in the womb is impacted by the language they hear spoken by their mothers as they carry them.

A new study has discovered a link between a new gene pathway and structural brain anomalies in some people who stutter into adulthood, opening up promising research avenues to enhance the understanding of persistent developmental stuttering.

Finally this week, researchers have developed a tool that simplifies the identification of errors in neural networks used for image recognition.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: Psychological Bulletin (2023)

A new study has provided the first clear picture of where language processes are located in the brain. The findings may be useful in clinical trials involving language recovery after brain injury.

Researchers have developed a model for studying one type of familial epilepsy, opening the door to understanding—and eventually targeting—the mechanisms that lead to the disorder and its associated fatalities.

A new study published in Nature Medicine sheds light on how biological sex influences brain function and its impact on the risk of various brain-related diseases.

A breakthrough technique developed by University of Oxford researchers could one day provide tailored repairs for those who suffer brain injuries. The researchers have demonstrated for the first time that neural cells can be 3D-printed to mimic the architecture of the cerebral cortex.

A research team has identified new potential treatments for children with rare genetic conditions of blood vessels, which cause severe, symptoms like seizures and impaired development.

Scientists have discovered new insights into how our brain stores episodic memories—a type of long-term, conscious memory of a previous experience—that could be critical to the development of new neuroprosthetic devices to help patients with memory problems, like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A global blood test for concussion could be a step closer after a new study discovered specific proteins or biomarkers that can help diagnose concussions relatively quickly and accurately.

The brain circuitry that is disrupted in Alzheimer’s disease appears to influence memory through a type of brain wave known as theta oscillation, a team led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could help researchers design and evaluate new treatments for Alzheimer’s, a condition that affects millions of people around the globe and has no cure.

Finally this week, a new study reveals the role of vascular system cells—pericytes—in the formation of long-term memories of life events—memories that are lost in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.