First glimpse of brains retrieving mistaken memories observed — ScienceDaily

Scientists have observed for the first time what it looks like in the key memory region of the brain when a mistake is made during a memory trial. The findings have implications for Alzheimer’s disease research and advancements in memory storage and enhancement, with a discovery that also provides a view into differences between the physiological events in the brain during a correct memory versus a faulty one.

The study was published today in the journal Nature Communications.

In both correct and incorrect recall of a spatial memory, researchers could observe patterns of cell activation in the brain that were similar, though the pace of activation differed.

“We could see the memories activating,” said Laura Colgin, an associate professor of neuroscience at The University of Texas at Austin and lead author of the paper. “It’s like dominoes falling. One cell activates and then the next…

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