Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living-Anais Nin

This week’s readings discussed a different aspect of memory; how it is processed and eventually recalled. This chapter describes several memory processing principals that included level of processing (things are more likely to be remembered if they are processed at a deeper level), transfer appropriate processing (things are remembered better if the processing is appropriate for the test at hand), and encoding specificity principle (the properties of the encoded event is closely related to the properties of the retrieval information i.e. being tested in the same room that the information is taught increases your chances of retrieving it successfully when tested). In the authors’ discussion of the encoding specificity principle, they state that this principle is the reason why we do not remember our dreams. They state that we have “dream amnesia” because the state in which the dreams take place is very different from the state in which we try to recall them. This makes sense because I seem to never remember my dreams unless they were really nightmares. But do certain people recall their dreams better than others. Based on the encoding specificity principle the answer would be “no,” but research done by David Watson, a professor of psychology in the University of Iowa, states the contrary.

In his study, Watson required 193 college students to record the time that the went to bed, the time that they woke up, whether they consumed alcohol or caffeine 4 hours prior to going to bed, and whether they recalled any of the dreams that they had that night. Participants recorded this information for 14 weeks.

The results of this study showed that there was no correlation between the amount of a sleep a participant had and their recall of dreams. He did find that those who had inconsistent sleep schedules tended to dream more and those who characterized themselves as a “night person” recalled their dreams more often. The most surprising result Watson found was that creative people remember their dreams better.

After thinking about Watson’s research, I realized that it really does not disprove the encoding specificity principle. Yes, he stated that creative people recalled their dreams better but that’s because their lives when they are awake and when they are asleep are similar. Creative people may be more imaginative and fantasize/daydream more. These are states that are characteristics of dreams. This makes creative people’s dream state reflect their waking state, thus improving their dream recall.

The entire research article can be found here:
www.scienze-relazionali.unina.it/didattica/docenti/giuditta/materiali/dream%202003.pdf

If you want to have a good laugh go to this website: http://www.brilliantdreams.com/
This website claims to sell a dream pill that induces dreams and improves your recall of dreams and memory. Who would purchase this product???

Note: The fresco painting on the right was done by Italian Renaissance artist Pierro della Francesca and is called "Constantine's Dream "

Way too much coffee. But if it weren't for the coffee, I'd have no identifiable personality whatsoever. ~David Letterman

Last week I read an article on how you can improve your memory by eating chocolate. I personally love chocolate so it was nice to read that it is actually helping me improve my memory. I eat chocolate occasionally but I am completely dependent on coffee. Bur does coffee have an affect on memory? I think caffeine should have a positive affect on memory because it fights against the fatigue we experience when we are doing a long task. I also seem to feel more energized after a cup of coffee in the morning. While looking for articles I hoped that I would find a positive correlation between drinking coffee and a better memory because I cannot imagine starting my day without coffee.

Research has shown that coffee can have positive effects on short-term memory by acting on the prefrontal cortex. Researchers from the Medical University at Innsbruck, Austria used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on 15 participants to see the effects of coffee on the brain. Before the start of the study, the subjects fasted for 4-6 hours and refrained from having caffeine and nicotine for at least a 24-hour period. The subjects were then given a cup of coffee or a caffeine free drink. After 20 minutes, fMRI scans were performed on the subjects while they completed memory tasks.

The results of this study showed that regardless of what the subjects drank; activation in the prefrontal lobe was seen. A significant difference was found in the amount of activation in this area depending on what the subjects drank. During the memory task, those who drank coffee had more activation in the prefrontal lobe, specifically the anterior cingulated and the anterior cingulated gyrus. These areas are important for executive memory processes, attention, concentration, planning, and monitoring. The researchers do not know how long caffeine’s effects on memory last.

I thought this research was very interesting, but I believe more research needs to be done. Future research on this subject should focus on how caffeine helps memory and how long its effects last. It would also be interesting to see if the time of day that one drinks coffee has an affect on memory.

The article can be found here: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8401

The Prefrontal Cortex and Schizophrenia

We learned from this week’s readings that the prefrontal cortex is a very important brain structure for working memory. Its activity is associated with the maintenance of information (i.e. goal related information), associative memory retrieval, increased memory load, and central executive functions. Studies have shown that there is a decrease in brain volume and the amount of connections in the frontal lobes of those who suffer from depression, drug addicts, and incarcerated individuals. Studies have also shown that Schizophrenic patients have some prefrontal cortex deficit.

Many famous artists and author like Jack Kerouac and Van Gogh suffered had schizophrenia. A new study has found a link between schizophrenic patients and a gene known as DARPP-32. This gene is said to enhance thinking by improving the way in which the prefrontal cortex processes information. DARPP-32 is also thought to control a nerve circuit involved in schizophrenia. This circuit connects the prefrontal cortex with the striatum which is involved in the planning of movement and executive functions. The effect on these connections causes schizophrenic patients to have impaired working memories and difficulty learning. Dr Daniel Weinberger from the US National Institute of Health (NIH) said “Our results raise the question of whether a gene variant favored by evolution, that would normally confer advantage, may translate into a disadvantage if the prefrontal cortex is impaired, as in schizophrenia.”

I believe this research is groundbreaking because it shows a specific gene that is correlated with schizophrenia. This new information can lead to the installment of genetic counseling programs for those who carry this trait. This program can decrease the amount of people suffering from schizophrenia in the future. Future research can also aim to find a way to silence this trait or repair the pathways in order to improve schizophrenic patients’ way of life by giving them the opportunity to regain their working memories and improve their ability to learn.

This article can be found here:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/darpp-32variations.cfm

NOTE: The picture on the right was painted by Craig Finn who suffers from Schizophrenia.

Baby Amnesia

Have you ever wondered why we do not remember our first steps, first words, or first birthday? Personally, I just remember things that happened to me after the age of 3. Is this because we do not form concrete memories at such a young age? An article from CNN’s Health section states that babies just forget these milestones. Just how adults forget things, babies forget as well but much quicker. This is a novel view because researchers used to believe that infantile brains were just not capable of forming memories.

The formation of memory develops at different points in every person's life because it is dependent on a system of structures in the brain. For most people this develops between the ages of 6 and 12 months. At this point, babies have the ability to form some short and long-term memories but they forget very easily. This is why we do not remember the events that happened to us in our early years of life. When we do remember things from our early childhood, they are emotional events. Even though we do not remember the things and events that happened to us during this stage in our lives, studies have shown that babies do indeed remember things. Developmental studies on babies have shown that they prefer novel objects over older ones. These studies imply that babies do form some memories because they remember objects they have seen before. These studies also prove that even though babies are so young, they are very intelligent and able to process things in their environment very well.

The article can be found here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/16/infant.amnesia.ap/index.html

Keep a Journal and Improve Your Working Memory

Working memory refers to a brain system that allows us to store and manage information temporarily. Regardless if your are trying to remember a list of letters in a memory tests or your Christmas shopping list that you fail to jot down on a piece of paper, working memory helps us keep these items in mind. Like any memory system, working memory is not perfect and we tend to forget items. This always happens to me when I have a list of errands that I need to make but I do not write them down. I always seem to forget at least one, which can be frustrating at times. Thinking about the frustration I felt when forgetting things made me search for articles that discussed how to improve working memory.

While searching for an article, I found some interesting research done by Kitty Klein, Professor in the Department of Psychology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her research showed that those who write about stressful or negative experiences tend to score better in memory task. The reason for this occurrence is that when we write about our stressful/negative experiences we are able to understand them better because the experience is not a collection of fragmented feelings and events. By writing the story down you see the experience as a whole, which allows us to deal with what happened better and faster. This in turn decreases the amount of unwanted thoughts or emotions that we usually have after an unpleasant experience.

The ability to digest our negative experiences better allows us to regain focus and concentrate better. This explains why people do better in working memory tasks after writing about their painful experience. I do not know how true this is but it makes sense that stressful situations can impair your ability to remember things. I guess that based on this research, keeping a journal would be beneficial.

The research can be found on this website:
http://litsite.alaska.edu/healing/memory.html

For those who want to give their working memory a work out go to these websites:
http://www.memorise.org/memoryGym.htm
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/easysurf/menu.htm

Five ways to keep your brain healthy

Simple things in life would be very complicated without our memory. Memorizing phone numbers, definitions, songs, poems, etc… would not be possible without our memory. As we get older and older our memory ages as well. There are five things we can do to improve our memory and keep it in tiptop shape.

1) Work out. Being physically active improves your overall health but it also keeps your brain healthy. Exercise like aerobics or cardio helps feed oxygenated blood to your brain. A study done in January 2006 concluded that just walking at least three times a week decreases your chances of developing dementia. So think twice before taking a cab.

2) Stay connected. Spending times with friends and family can also help you keep your memory healthy because it helps reduce stress and stimulates your brain. A study done in May 2006 showed that subjects over the age of 80 who have active social lives did not have significant decreases in cognitive ability. So make time for friends and family because not only will it help you strengthen your bond, but also it will keep your mind healthy.

3) Exercise your brain. Doing crossword puzzles, sodoku, or playing memory games will help you improve your memory skills. I guess doing crossword puzzles on the train is not a complete waste of time after all.

4) Curb stress. Stress causes hormones that impair your memory and damage brain cells to be released. Activities like yoga, meditation, reading books, listening to music, and talking to your friends can help you destress when you feel overwhelmed by school, work, and/or family.

5) Feed your mind. Studies have shown that certain foods help improve or maintain mental ability. Foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fatty fish can help protect blood vessels and increase the production of nerve cells. A sensible amount of alcohol can also be beneficial (one drink for women and two for men). Just remember to stay away from trans and saturated fats because not only does it increase your chances of getting a heart attack, but it also accelerates brain aging.

The article can be found here:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health-fitness/your-memory-3-07/overview/0307_memory_ov_1.htm

If you want to exercise your brain go here:
http://www.queendom.com/mindgames/index.html
http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/

Are you just losing your memory?

The article "Forgetful? You May Be Losing More Than Just Your Memory" discusses the results of a study that looked at people over the age of 60 who characterized themselves as forgetful but passed memory tests. Even though based on these tests they did not have significant memory problems, they had 3% less grey matter density than normal individuals. This percentage is only 1% lower than people who are diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is a condition whose symptoms lie between those of normal memory loss caused by aging and Alzheimer’s diseases. People with MCI are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other memory related diseases in the future. For this reason, people with decreased grey matter density should be monitored closely in order to slow down or follow the loss of grey matter. Monitoring will help detect and treat memory related disease earlier. It will also help advance what we know about how memory loss progresses and leads to more serious conditions.

This article can be found here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060915204447.htm

The cartoon came from this website:
http://www.minniepauz.com/extcord2.jpg