(10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.0015)
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Active or voluntary learning is a major topic in education, psychology, and neuroscience. Over the years, numerous studies have shown that when learning occurs through voluntary action, there is a modulation of attention, motivation and cognitive control that makes the process much more effective. Consequently, memory is benefited. However, although the physiological processes underlying this reality had been identified in the brain of mice, their existence in our species had not been corroborated.
Now, an international group of researchers led by ICREA Research Professor Paul Verschure from the SPECS laboratory at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and Professor Nikolai Axmacher from the Department of Neuropsychology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Germany), in collaboration with Pompeu Fabra University and Dr. Rodrigo Rocamora from Hospital del Mar, have identified for the first time in humans, the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon.
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IMAGE: In younger adults, hippocampal activity decreases and acitivty in other navigational areas increases. The pattern is not seen in older adults. view more
Credit: Diersch et al., JNeurosci 2021
Too much activity in the hippocampus may cause navigation impairments seen in aging adults, according to new research published in
JNeurosci.
Spatial navigation is one of the cognitive abilities that declines sharply in old age. Older adults often have difficulty navigating new environments and will choose to stick with familiar ones. Plus, key regions in the brain s navigation circuit are some of the first affected by Alzheimer s disease. In a recent study, Diersch et al. examined the neural mechanism behind this decline in spatial learning.
Obstructive sleep apnea is when breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. Research has shown people with this sleep disorder have an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment and Alzheimer s disease. Yet, it is treatable. A preliminary study released today, February 28, 2021, has found that obstructive sleep apnea is common in people with cognitive impairment. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology s 73rd Annual Meeting being held virtually April 17 to 22, 2021.
Machine learning-based training of brain activity has led to exciting developments: reduce fears, change one s preferences, or even increase one s confidence. Unfortunately, data to better understand the mechanisms of brain self-regulation remain scarce. A group of researchers from Japan, the US and Canada have joined forces to release the largest existing dataset of the sort.