Summary: A new study reveals that upsetting distractions significantly impair our ability to sustain attention and also linger more strongly in memory. Researchers tested this by having participants perform a…
Tag: Memory
How Sleep Rewrites the Brain to Strengthen and Optimize Memories
Summary: A new study reveals how the brain reprocesses and refines memories during sleep, particularly those related to spatial learning. Researchers tracked rats’ hippocampal neuron activity for up to 20…
Targeting Brain’s Drainage Pathways Rejuvenates Memory
Summary: Rejuvenating the brain’s lymphatic vessels can enhance memory in aging mice by improving the removal of waste products from the brain. This research suggests that targeting the meningeal lymphatics—vessels…
Dendrites Link Memories Formed Close in Time
Summary: A new study shows that our brains physically link memories formed close together in time through changes in the dendrites of neurons, rather than in the cell bodies. Using…
Why Some People Remember Dreams and Others Don’t
Summary: A new study explores why some people vividly recall dreams while others forget them. Researchers found that dream recall is influenced by personality traits, sleep patterns, and even seasonal…
Cannabis Use Reduces Brain Activity in Key Memory Regions
Summary: A study of over 1,000 young adults reveals that both recent and heavy lifetime cannabis use reduce brain activity in regions critical for working memory, including the prefrontal cortex…
False Memories Are Harder to Create Than Once Thought
Summary: A new analysis challenges long-standing claims about the ease of implanting false memories, often cited in court cases to discredit witnesses. Researchers re-evaluated data from a 2023 replication of…
Poor Sleep Linked to Difficulty Controlling Unwanted Thoughts
Summary: Sleep deprivation impairs brain regions responsible for suppressing unwanted thoughts, contributing to mental health challenges. Functional neuroimaging revealed reduced activation in the prefrontal cortex and increased hippocampal activity in…
Classical vs. Operant Conditioning: The Brain’s Memory Tug-of-War
Summary: Classical and operant conditioning compete in the brain, preventing simultaneous learning of conflicting actions. Using fruit flies, researchers demonstrated that attempting to teach both types of learning simultaneously results…
