A brain circuit in the thalamus helps us hold information in mind
This circuit, which weakens with age, could offer a target to help prevent age-related decline in spatial memory.
A single memory is stored across many connected brain regions
Innovative brain-wide mapping study shows that an “engram,” the ensemble of neurons encoding a memory, is widely distributed and includes regions not previously realized.
Neurons are fickle. Electric fields are more reliable for information.
Electric fields may represent information held in working memory, allowing the brain to overcome “representational drift,” or the inconsistent participation of individual neurons.
“Traveling” nature of brain waves may help working memory work
The act of holding information in mind is accompanied by coordination of rotating brain waves in the prefrontal cortex, a phenomenon that may convey specific advantages, a new study suggests.
Study links gene to cognitive resilience in the elderly
The findings may help explain why some people who lead enriching lives are less prone to Alzheimer’s and age-related dementia.
New integrative computational neuroscience center established at MIT’s McGovern Institute
The K. Lisa Yang Integrative Computational Neuroscience (ICoN) Center will use mathematical tools to transform data into a deep understanding of the brain.
Brain’s “memory center” is needed to recognize image sequences, but not single sights
The visual cortex stores and remembers individual images, but mice can’t recognize image sequences without guidance from the hippocampus.
Memory-making involves extensive DNA breaking
To quickly express learning and memory genes, brain cells snap both strands of DNA in many more places and cell types than previously realized, a new study shows.
As novel sights become familiar, different brain rhythms and neurons take over
As “visual recognition memory” emerges in the visual cortex, one circuit of inhibitory neurons supplants another, and slower neural oscillations prevail.
Physicists find a novel way to switch antiferromagnetism on and off
The findings could lead to faster, more secure memory storage, in the form of antiferromagnetic bits.
How the brain helps us remember what we’ve seen
Research finds that as one looks around, mental images bounce between right and left brain as they shift around in our visual system.
Brain waves guide us in spotlighting surprises
The brain uses different frequency rhythms and cortical layers to suppress expected stimulation and increase activity for what’s novel.
Neuroscientists identify brain circuit that encodes timing of events
Findings suggest this hippocampal circuit helps us to maintain our timeline of memories.
Alzheimer’s risk gene disrupts endocytosis, but another disease-linked gene could help
Astrocytes with the APOE4 gene variant show deficits of a key cellular function, but overexpressing the gene PICALM overcame the defect.
Neuroscientists discover a molecular mechanism that allows memories to form
Modifications to chromosomes in “engram” neurons control the encoding and retrieval of memories.