Learning & Memory

A stage of sleep – reflected in the size of our pupils – is important to committing recent memories to the brain, which could be manipulated to improve cognitive function and even identify issues with being able to recall newer experiences when awake.

Manipulating brain cells called astrocytes using light prevented the retention of fear memories long-term, according to new research. This opens the door to potential treatments for conditions like PTSD, which is characterized by abnormal fear memory.

Memories can form outside of the brain, according to new research. Non-brain cells exposed to chemical pulses similar to the ones that brain cells are exposed to when presented with new information caused the non-brain cells to switch on a gene critical for memory formation.

Time is relative – we’re all familiar with that feeling that time drags when we’re bored and flies when we’re busy. New analysis of brain activity patterns shows how our brains track time, and some intriguing insights into how cells handle it.

For the first time, researchers have identified how the brain’s fatty acids and the genes that control them are crucial to memory formation. The discovery opens the door to novel treatments for memory-affecting diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

A new study has found that a bioactive compound found in coffee beans improved learning and memory decline in aged mice. The findings open the door to developing a supplementary medicinal compound to treat or prevent age-related cognitive decline.

According to a 2022 study, just four alcoholic drinks per week can contribute to cognitive decline. Now, based on tests on mice, researchers may have found a way to fight booze's brain-hampering effects with the potent red ginseng root.

Cognitive decline is, sadly, a normal part of aging. But now scientists have uncovered a mechanism in this gradual process, which affects functions such as memory and reasoning, and believe it's key to developing drugs to stop it in its tracks.

Memory is commonly affected following a traumatic brain injury. A new study has found that AI-guided electrical brain stimulation in people with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury may successfully treat their memory loss.

Scientists investigating the potential of a non-invasive laser therapy to improve cognitive function have demonstrated an ability to boost short-term memory in human subjects by targeting specific regions of the brain.

It’s unsurprising but unfortunate that as we get older, our capacity to learn new skills diminishes. A new study by researchers at EPFL has found that non-invasive electrical brain stimulation can help older adults learn new motor skills much faster.

Scientists studying memory and learning in frog-eating bats have made a surprising discovery, demonstrating that they can recognize ringtones tied to food rewards up to four years later, which is believed to help them hunt in the wild.

Researchers at EPFL have found that an existing drug used to treat cancer, among other things, also seems to improve memory. Intriguingly, tests in mice show that the drug works by switching on genes associated with brain plasticity.

Scientists have managed to watch memories form inside the brains of live fish in real time. And the results were intriguing – synapses formed in one part of the brain while disappearing from another, rather than strengthening as previously thought.

Sharing information is crucial for species to survive, but how do simple lifeforms like worms spread the word? New research has found that roundworms can transfer “memories” to their neighbors, and pass them down to their offspring for generations.