Memory

A new study out of Northwestern University has found the old advice of solving a problem by "sleeping on it" is not only true, but can be improved by using sound cues to manipulate our brain while we sleep.

A study has homed in on a gene linked to “short sleepers”, those with the ability to slumber for less than six hours a night with no negative consequences. The gene mutation also was found to prevent memory problems associated with sleep deprivation.

We know exercise is beneficial for brain health but exactly how it confers cognitive enhancements is not entirely clear. Compelling new research has discovered a single session of exercise can enhance the expression of a gene that promotes synaptic growth in the hippocampus.

Two remarkable new studies are suggesting sci-fi stories of memory manipulation may not be so far-fetched. The research describes early proof-of-concept experiments showing how negative emotional associations with traumatic memories can potentially be weakened or even entirely edited out.

Researchers at Northwestern University have used a non-invasive form of magnetic brain stimulation to improve the memory of older adults. After just five short sessions the older adults scored as well as a younger cohort on a variety of memory tasks.

A new study conducted by scientists at Boston University has outlined a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that was able to restore working memory in 70-year-old subjects, so much so they functioned like a healthy 20-year-old.

A newly-published study has found a link between repeated episodes of anxiety and depression experienced in the first four decades of life, and a decline in memory function by the time a person reaches their 50s.

An important part of the human brain has to work harder to actively forget a memory than it does to remember it, according to the results of a newly-published study. The research could one day lead to a treatment designed to remove painful memories.

New research has revealed that a short night sleep with an afternoon nap is better for a teenager's mood and cognition than a longer, continuous night’s sleep. On the other hand, the split sleep students reported higher glucose levels, a marker that points to increased diabetes risk.​

For centuries humans have anecdotally espoused the rejuvenating properties of young blood, however it is only recently that scientists have begun to seriously explore the idea. A new study has homed in on a potential hypothesis revealing young bone marrow transplants improved memory in old mice.

​A fascinating study tracking thousands of people for 20 years has revealed an intriguing association between signs of chronic inflammation in middle age, and the development of memory and thinking problems in older age.

A team of Canadian scientists has developed a fascinating new experimental drug that is purported to produce rapid improvements to both mood and memory following extensive animal testing. It's hoped the drug will move to human trials within the next two years.