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.
As information flows through brain’s heirarchy, higher regions use higher-frequency waves
Study also finds specific frequency bands of brain waves associated with encoding, or inhibiting encoding, of sensory information across the cortex.
Study suggests animals think probabilistically to distinguish contexts
New statistical model may help scientists understand how animals infer whether surroundings are novel or haven’t changed enough to be a new context.
A new way to control experimentation with dreams
Device not only helps record dream reports, but also guides dreams toward particular themes.
Like a treasure map, brain region emphasizes reward location
The lateral septum encodes spatial information with a special emphasis on where the reward lies.
Neuroscientists find memory cells that help us interpret new situations
Neurons that store abstract representations of past experiences are activated when a new, similar event takes place.
How dopamine drives brain activity
A specialized MRI sensor reveals the neurotransmitter’s influence on neural activity throughout the brain.
With these neurons, extinguishing fear is its own reward
The same neurons responsible for encoding reward also form new memories to suppress fearful ones.
Study probing visual memory and amblyopia unveils many-layered mystery
Scientists pinpoint the role of a receptor in vision degradation in amblyopia.