Alzheimer's Starts To Steal The Joy Of Being A Grandfather
When Greg O'Brien found out he'd be a grandfather, he was excited. He was also sad. His granddaughter, he knew, would never know the real him.
memory
Electrical Stimulation To Boost Memory: Maybe It's All In The Timing
Research in epilepsy has found a key to why small pulses of electricity to the brain sometimes help and sometimes hurt a failing memory. Brains hurt by physical trauma or dementia might benefit, too.
How Playing Tetris Tames The Trauma Of A Car Crash
Researchers were able to dial down painful recollections of a car crash by having people play the video game Tetris while in the emergency room. The technique makes use of the malleability of memory.
Maybe You, Too, Could Become A Super Memorizer
After six weeks of training, people could memorize twice as much. Areas of the brain had begun communicating in new ways — a lot like what happens inside the heads of world memory champions.
Can Poetry Keep You Young? Science Is Still Out, But The Heart Says Yes
Scientific evidence showing health benefits from engaging in the arts is still weak. But Los Angeles students in their 80s say their poetry class gives them joy, solace, community and a voice.
A Brain Tweak Lets Mice Abstain From Cocaine
Scientists have created addiction-resistant mice by altering the reward system in their brains. The findings shed light on the biochemistry of addiction.
When The Brain Scrambles Names, It's Because You Love Them
If your mom had to run through the name of everyone in the family, including the dog, before hitting yours, it's probably because you're all in a mental folder labeled "loved ones."
Zap! Magnet Study Offers Fresh Insights Into How Memory Works
A magnetic pulse to a certain spot in the brain of healthy volunteers restored recently "forgotten" thoughts, researchers found. The study is shifting the understanding of short-term recall.
Your Dog Remembers Every Move You Make
Our canine pals remember lots of facts, like where to find the food bowl. Now there's evidence they also have aspects of "episodic memory," which allow them to relive experiences and events.
A Protein That Moves From Muscle To Brain May Tie Exercise To Memory
In mice, monkeys and people, exercise releases a protein called cathepsin B. And as blood and brain levels of this protein rise, memory gets better. But the protein has a dark side, too.