Scientists know little about how the brain assigns cells to participate in encoding and storing memories. Now a UCLA/University of Toronto team has discovered that a protein called CREB controls the odds of a neuron playing a role in memory formation. picked by AutumnLotus 3 years ago

“Our findings suggest brain size increases the most in areas with larger populations, and this almost certainly increased the intensity of social competition” picked by kakana 5 months ago

Oxford researchers, together with colleagues in Norway, examined the effect that the three products had on memory and thinking among more than 2,000 people aged between 70 and 74. They found that wine had the most pronounced single effect, while those who regularly consumed all three in modest amounts performed best in a series of brain tests. picked by suebe 11 months ago

Radiotherapy used to treat brain tumors may lead to a decline in mental function many years down the line, say Dutch researchers.

A study of 65 patients, 12 years after they were treated, found those who had radiotherapy were more likely to have problems with memory and attention.

"It always depends on the patient, but if it is possible to defer radiotherapy, maybe people should" picked by Bingo 4 months ago

Good news for gamers: engaging in activities like playing some games might help fight off aging-related mental decline. picked by meggysue 3 months ago

During an experimental brain surgery to reduce a patient's appetite, surgeons triggered a déjà vu event. The patient had vivid and precise memories of something that happened 30 years ago. The possibilities of this being used to help Alzheimer's patients are being investigated. picked by 2manyusernames 2 years ago

A new study by researchers at UC Davis shows how our very short-term "working memory," which allows the brain to stitch together sensory information, operates. The system retains a limited number of high-resolution images for a few seconds, rather than a wider range of fuzzier impressions. picked by h2so4hurts 2 years ago

Scientists have been able to recreate 'thoughts and memories' for a small part of the brain, and think that scaling the project to a full brain is only a question of money. picked by Ankabout 7 months ago

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have made a breakthrough in the fulfilment of a century-old dream of neuroscientists to visualize a memory by capturing, for the first time, images of the changes in brain cell connections following a common form of learning. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

For the first time, scientists at UCLA and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel have recorded individual brain cells in the act of calling up a memory, thus revealing where in the brain a specific memory is stored and how the brain is able to recreate it. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

Researchers have discovered that whether someone is a 'people-person' may depend on the structure of their brain: the greater the concentration of brain tissue in certain parts of the brain, the more likely they are to be a warm, sentimental person. picked by karenben 6 months ago

A smattering of recent studies, most of them involving animals, hint that stimulants could alter the structure and function of the brain in ways that may depress mood, boost anxiety and, in sharp contrast to their short-term effects, lead to cognitive deficits. picked by sidran32 4 months ago

A robot controlled by a blob of rat brain cells could provide insights into diseases such as Alzheimer's, University of Reading scientists say.
Video included. And another in comments. picked by cycostinkoman 1 year ago

Brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and strokes could be treated by stem-cell therapy, a study suggests.

Scientists have used the technique to repair the damaged memory of mice - and believe it could work in humans. picked by AutumnLotus 4 months ago

As the brain ages, it remembers things differently, according to New Brain Imaging Study. picked by karenben 12 months ago

Researchers discovered that a brain region called the parietal lobe, which governs spatial awareness, is active in both men and women when they admire a "beautiful" picture or photograph. But while neurons on both sides of the brain were stimulated in women, only those in the right hemisphere were activated in men. picked by AutumnLotus 9 months ago

Fun math, reaction time, and memory exercises for your brain. If you register with the site, it tracks your progress. picked by hypnotode 3 years ago

When we age, just as we naturally lose physical agility, we lose mental agility. But you can do something about, even increase, your mental capacity as you grow older. picked by karenben 1 year ago

In a follow up to a story from last year, MRI scans on Jill Price, 43, who in 2006 was the first person confirmed to have "super memory," reveal two abnormally large areas in her brain. That discovery could lead to breakthroughs on how memories are formed and kept. picked by suebe 10 months ago

A study has shown that eating fatty foods can help increase the memory, due to the conversion of certain acids to memory-enhancing agents in the gut. picked by Ankabout 7 months ago