Visual Memory Research Articles

Are Social Media Notifications Distracting?

Abstract: Visual working memory (VWM), due to its temporary nature, is highly volatile. VWM encoding may be easily disrupted by cues from our visually rich media environment, such as social media logos and notification badges. Yet, to what extent these social media-related cues adversely affect our cognitive processing is not well understood. In three experiments, participants performed a change-detection task with a memory array that contained colored stimuli. Next to the memory array, social media logos with or without notification badges might appear in conjunction with the memory array in critical blocks (Experiment 1) or in critical trials (Experiment 2 and 3). The presence of social media logos with notification badges adversely affected change detection performance in Experiment 1, but not in Experiment 2 or 3. Overall, the findings seem to indicate that the presence of social media logos does not interfere with visual working memory performance.

Effectiveness of Brain Training Exercises on Visual and Auditory Memory in Students with Dyslexia

Background: Dyslexia, a learning disorder characterized by reading difficulties, can also impair memory function in students. Objectives: This study aimed to address the gap in knowledge regarding the effectiveness of brain training exercises in enhancing memory function in this population. We investigated whether such interventions could improve academic success for students with dyslexia. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized, incorporating pre-test, post-test, and 45-day follow-up measurements, with a control group for comparison. The target population comprised elementary school students diagnosed with dyslexia at learning disability centers in Tehran, Iran, during the 2022 - 2023 academic year. Using convenience sampling, 30 participants were selected and then randomly assigned to either the experimental (brain training) or control group through simple random assignment. Visual memory and digit-letter sequencing abilities were assessed using validated tools: The Visual Memory Questionnaire and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) Digit-Letter Sequencing subtest, respectively. The experimental group participated in eight brain training sessions, each lasting 60 minutes, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.0. Repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were employed for data analysis. Results: Post-test visual memory scores were significantly higher in the brain training exercises group (M = 8.73, SD = 1.60) compared to the control group (M = 5.30, SD = 1.25). Auditory memory scores demonstrated a similar trend, with the brain training group outperforming the control group (M = 10.80, SD=1.78 vs. M = 6.86, SD = 1.99). The brain training program produced significant improvements in visual and auditory memory among students with dyslexia, as evidenced by post-test results (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This finding suggests a robust positive effect of the intervention on memory function. These results suggest that brain training exercises can be a promising intervention for enhancing memory function in students with dyslexia.

EXPRESS: Do Motor Representations Influence Declarative Memory for Graspable Objects? A Test with Action Priming and Short-Term Hand Nonuse.

The present study addressed the role of motor representations in declarative memory (i.e., semantic and episodic). Based on embodied and grounded theories of cognition, it is often suggested that motor representations contribute to declarative memory. According to the action priming effect, graspable objects are categorized faster when primed by pictures of a congruent hand grip, as motor representations (how to grasp it) and semantic information (what it is) are closely related. Moreover, motor representations may contribute to episodic memory functioning. We immobilized participants' dominant hand for 24 hours to impair their processing of hand-related motor representations. This method is known to elicit rapid updating of cortical hand representations, and a slowdown in cognitive tasks linked to hand-related motor cognition. We expected to observe a decreased action priming effect following short-term hand nonuse. We further predicted that in a subsequent recognition task, objects that had been encoded following congruent action priming would be recognized faster by controls, but not by previously immobilized participants. Results did not show any effect of hand nonuse on action priming, suggesting that motor representations are not a decisive factor for this effect. Nonetheless, prime congruence influenced subsequent recognition. Immobilized participants were slower to recognize objects previously seen with an unrelated hand grip prime compared to a congruent one. This result suggests a contribution of motor representation to declarative memory, in particular when the sensorimotor system has previously been impaired.

Associations between sex and lifestyle activities with cognitive reserve in mid-life adults with genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Females have a higher age-adjusted incidence of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) than males, even when accounting for longer lifespan and, therefore, stand to benefit the most from dementia prevention efforts. As exposure to many modifiable risk factors for dementia begins in mid-life, interventions must be implemented from middle-age. Building cognitive reserve, particularly through stimulating avocational activities and occupational attainment presents a crucial, underexplored, dementia prevention approach for mid-life. It is currently unknown, however, whether modifiable lifestyle factors can protect against AD processes, from mid-life, differentially for females and males who carry inherited risk for late-life dementia. To address this gap, this study investigated the impact of biological sex and APOE4 carrier status on the relationship between stimulating activities, occupational attainment, and cognition in mid-life. We leveraged the PREVENT-Dementia program, the world's largest study investigating the origins and early diagnosis of dementia in mid-life at-risk individuals (N = 700; 40-59 years). Cognitive performance was measured using the Cognito Battery and the Visual Short Term Memory Binding task. Mid-life specific reserve contributors were assessed via the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire. Females had significantly better episodic and relational memory (p < 0.001), and lower occupational attainment than males (p < 0.001). Engagement in stimulating activities was positively associated with episodic and relational memory, regardless of sex and APOE4 status (β = 0.05, CI 0.03-0.07, p < 0.001). APOE4 carriers showed significant sex differences in the association between occupational attainment and episodic and relational memory (β = 0.38, CI 0.12-0.63, p = 0.003). APOE4 carrier females with higher occupational attainment showed better cognition (β = 0.16, CI -0.002-0.32, p = 0.053), whereas APOE4 carrier males showed the opposite effect (β = -0.20, CI -0.40 - -0.001, p = 0.049). Our findings suggest that occupational attainment in mid-life contributes to cognitive reserve against inherited risk of dementia in females, but not males. They highlight the need for high precision approaches that consider biological sex and APOE4 carrier status to inform Alzheimer's disease prevention strategies and clinical trials.

The Impact of Modern Technology on Photographic Memory: Evidence from African Rural University

This study investigates the impact of modern technology on photographic memory among university students at African Rural University, focusing on how digital tools influence memory retention and recall. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative memory assessments with qualitative interviews and surveys to explore students’ experiences and perceptions. Findings indicate a complex relationship where extensive technology use—particularly smartphones correlate with diminished self-reported memory confidence and recall capabilities. Despite acknowledging that technology may hinder their innate memory abilities, students often rely on these tools for academic success. Visual and auditory memory tests revealed that many participants struggled with detailed recall, reinforcing concerns about cognitive overload. The study concludes that while technology offers organizational benefits, it may simultaneously impair natural memory functions, highlighting the need for balanced technology integration in educational practices. Recommendations include training on memory strategies, practice sessions, and promoting active recall techniques to enhance memory retention amidst technological reliance. Future research should explore the long-term effects of technology use on memory development.

Impact of Nutritional Minerals Biomarkers on Cognitive Performance Among Bangladeshi Rural Adolescents—A Pilot Study

Background: Nutritional metals (NM) are essential for neurodevelopment and cognitive performance during growth. Nevertheless, epidemiological evidence regarding the associations between NM and brain function remains understudied, particularly among adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study was to examine the effects of NM biomarkers such as iron (Fe), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) on neurobehavioral functions among a group of rural Bangladeshi adolescents. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 105 adolescents aged 13–17 from Araihazar, Bangladesh. Cognitive function was assessed using the computer-based Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS), focusing attention, memory, and executive function, and blood NM levels (Fe, Se, Zn, Mg, and Cu) were measured. Associations between individual minerals, NM composite scores, and cognition were analyzed using multiple linear regressions. Results: This study included 47 boys and 58 girls with an average age of 15 years. Fe levels were correlated with Continuous Performance Test (CPT) latency (r = −0.42, p &lt; 0.05) and Se levels correlated with Match-to-Sample (MTS) correct count (r = 0.32, p &lt; 0.01). Linear regressions showed that Se was associated with MTS correct count (b = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.01, −0.04), reflecting visual memory, and Fe was associated with CPT latency (b = −0.68, 95%CI: −1.11, −0.26), reflecting improved attention. The same BARS measures were also significantly associated with the 3-NM composite score. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that NM, particularly Fe, Se, and NM mixtures, could play a crucial role in brain development and neurocognitive function during adolescence. Further studies will help design national public health policies and strategies to address and mitigate brain health deficiencies among adolescents.

Cognitive reserve against Alzheimer's pathology is linked to brain activity during memory formation.

The cognitive reserve (CR) hypothesis posits that individuals can differ in how their brain function is disrupted by pathology associated with aging and neurodegeneration. Here, we test this hypothesis in the continuum from cognitively normal to at-risk stages for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) to AD dementia using longitudinal data from 490 participants of the DELCODE multicentric observational study. Brain function is measured using task fMRI of visual memory encoding. Using a multivariate moderation analysis, we identify a CR-related activity pattern underlying successful memory encoding that moderates the detrimental effect of AD pathological load on cognitive performance. CR is mainly represented by a more pronounced expression of the task-active network encompassing deactivation of the default mode network (DMN) and activation of inferior temporal regions including the fusiform gyrus. We devise personalized fMRI-based CR scores that moderate the impact of AD pathology on cognitive performance and are positively associated with years of education. Furthermore, higher CR scores attenuate the effect of AD pathology on cognitive decline over time. Our findings primarily provide evidence for the maintenance of core cognitive circuits including the DMN as the neural basis of CR. Individual brain activity levels of these areas during memory encoding have prognostic value for future cognitive decline.

Effects of different types of high-definition transcranial electrical stimulation on visual working memory and contralateral delayed activity

Background and purposeWorking memory is critical for individuals and has been found to be improved by electrical stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, the effects of different types of transcranial electrical stimulation on working memory are controversial, and the underlying mechanism remains uncertain. In this study, high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and high-definition transcranial random noise stimulation (HD-tRNS) were applied to the DLPFC to observe the different effects on visual working memory (VWM). The aim was to explore the causal relationship between the electrical activity of the DLPFC and the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) electrical activity and the contralateral delayed activity (CDA).MethodsThirty-three healthy subjects received HD-tDCS, HD-tRNS and sham stimulation in a random order. Stimulation was applied to the left DLPFC for 20 min. The subjects underwent a color change-detection task as our VWM task and an auditory digit span test (DST) immediately after stimulation. Event-related potential (ERP) data were collected during the VWM task.ResultsThe results revealed significant differences between the different types of HD-tES. There was a remarkable increase in VWM capacity following HD-tDCS compared with both HD-tRNS (pa = 0.038) and sham stimulation (pa = 0.038). Additionally, the CDA from the PPC differed after stimulation of the DLPFC. Both HD-tDCS and HD-tRNS expanded the maximum CDA amplitude from set size of 4 to 6, whereas after sham stimulation, the maximum CDA was maintained at a set size of 4. Compared with the sham condition, only HD-tDCS induced a noteworthy increase in CDA amplitude (pa = 0.012). Notably, a significant correlation emerged between the mean CDA amplitude and VWM capacity (p < 0.001, r = − 0.402).ConclusionThese findings underscore the ability of HD-tDCS to target the DLPFC to augment working memory capacity while concurrently amplifying CDA amplitudes in the PPC through the frontoparietal network.Trial registration ChiCTR2300074898.

Comparing visio-spatial intelligence in amateur rugby and netball players using hand-eye coordination tests

Background: Research investigating the differences in visio-spatial skills (VSS) between athletes and non-athletes, as well as variations across sports, presents conflicting findings.Aim: The objective of this study was to determine if there exist significant differences in visio-spatial intelligence (VSI) skills between rugby players and netball players, and whether such disparities are present when comparing both groups to non-athletes.Setting: All participants, including the control group (non-athletes), rugby players and netball players, were recruited from the Zululand region of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, specifically from all premier league rugby and netball teams in the area.Methods: Participants underwent an optometric assessment, followed by an evaluation of VSS using six established tests: The Hart Near Far Rock, saccadic eye movement, evasion, accumulator, flash memory and ball wall toss tests.Results: The results revealed that rugby players significantly outperformed netball players in speed of recognition, peripheral awareness and hand-eye coordination (P = 0.000). Moreover, both rugby players and netball players performed significantly better than non-athletes in five of the six tests (P = 0.000), with the exception being the visual memory test (P = 0.809).Conclusion: This discrepancy in performance suggests that certain VSS are superior in athletes compared to non-athletes, highlighting potential implications for theories of vision, test selection and the development of sport-specific VSS testing batteries. Furthermore, the use of a hand-eye coordination-specific VSS test battery effectively differentiated between different sports.Contribution: The identified pattern was not consistent across all VSS tests, indicating that further research should explore the training methods employed by both sports, as these factors may contribute to the observed differences.

Comparing retro-cue benefit mechanisms in visual working memory: completely valid vs. highly valid retro-cues

Visual working memory (VWM) plays a crucial role in temporarily maintaining and manipulating visual information. Retro-cue benefit (RCB) refers to the enhancement of memory performance when attention is directed toward a subset of items in VWM after their initial encoding. Our recent electroencephalogram (EEG) studies indicate that cue validity affects the mechanisms underlying RCB formation. However, previous research has not thoroughly examined whether these mechanisms differ between completely valid and highly valid cue conditions. This study investigates the consistency of RCB mechanisms under conditions of complete (100%) and high (80%) retro-cue validity. We manipulated retro-cue validity and examined cognitive processing mechanisms under different validity conditions using EEG. Specifically, we focused on the N2pc component, which reflects attentional resource allocation, and the contralateral delay activity (CDA) component, which reflects the quantity of information retained in VWM. The results, encompassing both behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) findings, show that participants in both the 100% and 80% cue validity conditions exhibit robust RCB. Notably, the degree of RCB remains consistent across these conditions, indicating that participants utilize retro-cues to enhance VWM performance to the same extent. In the 80% cue validity condition, a significant retro-cue cost (RCC) was observed, indicating that participants selectively discarded uncued items from VWM. In invalid trials, response accuracy drops to chance levels, supporting the removal hypothesis. ERP results reveal that attentional resource allocation (N2pc) and the quantity of retained information (CDA) remain uniform across cue validity conditions. The mechanism responsible for RCB formation appears to involve an all-or-nothing process of discarding uncued information rather than a flexible resource allocation strategy. This study provides insights into attention allocation and information-processing mechanisms in VWM, suggesting that conclusions drawn from tasks with completely valid retro-cues can be integrated with findings from highly valid cue tasks. These findings also illuminate the flexibility of internal attentional resource allocation during RCB formation and contribute to our understanding of attention processes in VWM.

Projection-specific circuits of retrosplenial cortex with differential contributions to spatial cognition.

Retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is a brain region involved in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. It has reciprocal connections with a diverse set of cortical and subcortical brain regions, but the afferent structure and behavioral function of circuits defined by its projection-specific sub-populations have yet to be determined. The corticocortical connections between RSC and secondary motor cortex (M2), as well as corticothalamic connections between RSC and anterodorsal thalamus (AD) have been hypothesized to function as semi-independent, but parallel pathways that impact spatial information processing in distinct ways. We used retrograde and anterograde viral tracers and monosynaptic retrograde rabies virus to quantitatively characterize and compare the afferent and efferent distributions of retrosplenial neuron sub-populations projecting to M2 and AD. AD-projecting and M2-projecting RSC neurons overlap in their collateral projections to other brain regions, but not in their projections to M2 and AD, respectively. Compared with AD-projecting RSC neurons, M2-projecting RSC neurons received much greater afferent input from the dorsal subiculum, AD, lateral dorsal and lateral posterior thalamus, and somatosensory cortex. AD-projecting RSC neurons received greater input from the anterior cingulate cortex and medial septum. We performed chemogenetic inhibition of M2- and AD-projecting RSC neurons and examined its impact on object-location memory, object-recognition, open-field exploration, and place-action association. Our findings indicate that inhibition of M2-projecting RSC neurons impairs object location memory as well as place-action association, while the RSC to AD pathway impacts only object-location memory. The findings indicate that RSC is composed of semi-independent circuits distinguishable by their afferent/efferent distributions and differing in the cognitive functions to which they contribute.

Differential association between childhood trauma subtypes and neurocognitive performance in adults with major depression

BackgroundNeurocognitive impairment is one of the prominent manifestations of major depressive disorder (MDD). Childhood trauma enhances vulnerability to developing MDD and contributes to neurocognitive dysfunctions. However, the distinct impacts of different types of childhood trauma on neurocognitive processes in MDD remain unclear.MethodsThis study comprised 186 individuals diagnosed with MDD and 268 healthy controls. Childhood trauma was evaluated using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. Neurocognitive abilities, encompassing sustained attention, vigilance, visual memory, and executive functioning, were measured by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery.ResultsMultivariable linear regressions revealed that childhood trauma and MDD diagnosis were independently associated with neurocognitive impairment. Physical neglect was associated with impaired visual memory and working memory. MDD diagnosis is associated with working memory and planning. Interactive analysis revealed that physical/sexual abuse was associated with a high level of vigilance and that emotional neglect was linked with better performance on cognitive flexibility in MDD patients. Furthermore, childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, and emotional neglect were revealed to be risk factors for developing early-onset, chronic depressive episodes.ConclusionThus, specific associations between various childhood traumas and cognitive development in depression are complex phenomena that need further study.

A meta-analysis of data-driven cognitive subgroups in bipolar disorder

The delineation of cognitive subgroups of bipolar disorder (BD) might be helpful for identifying biologically valid subtypes of this disorder. This meta-analysis identified peer-reviewed literature on studies investigating cognitive subgroups of BD with data-driven clustering methods. Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed using R software. A total of 14 cross-sectional studies including euthymic or mildly symptomatic patients with BD were included in the current meta-analysis. The available studies have consistently supported a 3-cluster solution. The pooled prevalence of the severe-impairment, moderate-impairment, and major good-functioning groups were 23.1 % (95%CI, 18.5 %–27.7 %), 42.5 % (95%CI, 36.3 %–48.8 %), and 33.5 % (95%CI, 25.9 %–41.1 %) respectively. Compared to healthy controls, both the severe-impairment (g=−1.40 to −1.73) and moderate-impairment groups (g=−0.59 to −0.96) had significant deficits in all six cognitive domains (verbal memory, visual memory, executive functions, working memory, attention and processing speed). The good-performance subgroup had a small increase in the performance of executive functions (g=0.23) and normal functioning in all other domains. Compared to the good-performance subgroup, the severe-impairment subgroup was characterized by more severe functional impairment, more hospital admissions, a higher percentage of type I BD and antipsychotic use. The characteristics of the moderate-impairment subgroup were lying between the other two subgroups for most of the measures. The current findings support the existence of 3 cognitive subgroups in BD including severe-impairment and moderate-impairment groups which are associated with a more severe course of illness.

Convolutional neural networks uncover the dynamics of human visual memory representations over time.

The ability to accurately retrieve visual details of past events is a fundamental cognitive function relevant for daily life. While a visual stimulus contains an abundance of information, only some of it is later encoded into long-term memory representations. However, an ongoing challenge has been to isolate memory representations that integrate various visual features and uncover their dynamics over time. To address this question, we leveraged a novel combination of empirical and computational frameworks based on the hierarchal structure of convolutional neural networks and their correspondence to human visual processing. This enabled to reveal the contribution of different levels of visual representations to memory strength and their dynamics over time. Visual memory strength was measured with distractors selected based on their shared similarity to the target memory along low or high layers of the convolutional neural network hierarchy. The results show that visual working memory relies similarly on low and high-level visual representations. However, already after a few minutes and on to the next day, visual memory relies more strongly on high-level visual representations. These findings suggest that visual representations transform from a distributed to a stronger high-level conceptual representation, providing novel insights into the dynamics of visual memory over time.

Local and interareal alpha and low-beta band oscillation dynamics underlie the bilateral field advantage in visual working memory.

Visual working memory has a limited maximum capacity, which can be larger if stimuli are presented bilaterally vs. unilaterally. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying this bilateral field advantage are not known. Visual working memory capacity is predicted by oscillatory delay-period activity, specifically, by a decrease in alpha (8 to 12Hz) band amplitudes in posterior brain regions reflecting attentional deployment and related shifts in excitation, as well as a concurrent increase of prefrontal oscillation amplitudes and interareal synchronization in multiple frequencies reflecting active maintenance of information. Here, we asked whether posterior alpha suppression or prefrontal oscillation enhancement explains the bilateral field advantage. We recorded brain activity with high-density electroencephalography, while subjects (n= 26, 14 males) performed a visual working memory task with uni- and bilateral visual stimuli. The bilateral field advantage was associated with early suppression of low-alpha (6 to 10Hz) and alpha-beta (10 to 17Hz) band amplitudes, and a subsequent alpha-beta amplitude increase, which, along with a concurrent load-dependent interareal synchronization in the high-alpha band (10 to 15Hz), correlated with hit rates and reaction times and thus predicted higher maximum capacities in bilateral than unilateral visual working memory. These results demonstrate that the electrophysiological basis of the bilateral field advantage in visual working memory is both in the changes in attentional deployment and enhanced interareal integration.

Exploring cognitive functions and brain structure in Hereditary Transthyretin amyloidosis using brain MRI and neuropsychological assessment.

Central nervous system symptoms, such as cognitive dysfunction, have been reported in Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTRv). However, there is a lack of neuroimaging studies investigating structural alterations in the brain related to cognition in ATTRv amyloidosis. This study aimed to investigate cognition and cortical morphology in a cohort of ATTRv patients. 29 ATTRv patients and 26 healthy controls completed neuropsychological assessment. 21 of these patients underwent 3T brain MRI, and 23 healthy subjects constituted the control group for MRI. Cortical measures of volume, thickness, fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained for both groups. Correlation analyses between brain and cognitive measurements were performed. Patients displayed worse performance than controls in executive functions, verbal and visual memory, visuospatial domains, and language tests. Our study indicated cortical thinning in ATTRv patients in the temporal, occipital, frontal, and parietal areas. The inferior temporal gyrus correlated with verbal memory. Insula and, pars opercularis correlated with both verbal memory and executive function. Cortical thickness in the inferior temporal gyrus, pars opercularis, and insula were linked to memory and executive function. We observed no correlations between cortical volume measures and cognition. Further investigations are imperative to confirm these findings across different populations.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over the Posterior Parietal Cortex Increases Nontarget Retrieval during Visual Working Memory.

Visual working memory (VWM) requires precise feature binding. Previous studies have revealed a close relationship between the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and feature binding during VWM; this study further examined their causal relationship through three transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) experiments. In Experiment 1 (N = 57), participants underwent three sessions of tDCS separately, including PPC stimulation, occipital cortex stimulation, and sham stimulation, and completed delayed estimation tasks for orientations before and after stimulation. Results showed that tDCS over PPC selectively prolonged recall response time (RT) and increased the probability of nontarget responses (a.k.a. failure of feature binding, pNT). In Experiment 2 (N = 29), combining metacognition estimation, we further investigated whether the effects of PPC stimulation were attributed to misbinding (i.e., participants self-reported "remembered" in nontarget responses) or informed guessing trials (participants self-reported "forgotten" in nontarget responses). We replicated the main findings in Experiment 1 and observed greater tDCS effects of PPC on RT in informed guessing trials while there are comparable effects on pNT in these two types of trials. In Experiment 3 (N = 28), we then examined whether the tDCS effects over PPC specifically influenced the memory retrieval process by using a change detection task. We found that PPC stimulation did not influence the recognition RT or accuracy. Together, this study provided direct causal evidence supporting the specific involvement of PPC in feature binding during VWM retrieval, from both aspects of speed and response preference, expanding our understanding of the neural basis of feature binding in VWM.

Natural forgetting reversibly modulates engram expression

Memories are stored as ensembles of engram neurons and their successful recall involves the reactivation of these cellular networks. However, significant gaps remain in connecting these cell ensembles with the process of forgetting. Here, we utilized a mouse model of object memory and investigated the conditions in which a memory could be preserved, retrieved, or forgotten. Direct modulation of engram activity via optogenetic stimulation or inhibition either facilitated or prevented the recall of an object memory. In addition, through behavioral and pharmacological interventions, we successfully prevented or accelerated forgetting of an object memory. Finally, we showed that these results can be explained by a computational model in which engrams that are subjectively less relevant for adaptive behavior are more likely to be forgotten. Together, these findings suggest that forgetting may be an adaptive form of engram plasticity which allows engrams to switch from an accessible state to an inaccessible state.

Natural forgetting reversibly modulates engram expression.

Memories are stored as ensembles of engram neurons and their successful recall involves the reactivation of these cellular networks. However, significant gaps remain in connecting these cell ensembles with the process of forgetting. Here, we utilized a mouse model of object memory and investigated the conditions in which a memory could be preserved, retrieved, or forgotten. Direct modulation of engram activity via optogenetic stimulation or inhibition either facilitated or prevented the recall of an object memory. In addition, through behavioral and pharmacological interventions, we successfully prevented or accelerated forgetting of an object memory. Finally, we showed that these results can be explained by a computational model in which engrams that are subjectively less relevant for adaptive behavior are more likely to be forgotten. Together, these findings suggest that forgetting may be an adaptive form of engram plasticity which allows engrams to switch from an accessible state to an inaccessible state.

Formation and Development of Professionally Important Qualities of Civil Defense Specialists at Higher Education Institutions

The article deals with the peculiarities of the formation and development of professionally important qualities of civil defense specialists at higher education institutions. Different approaches to the definition of the concept of «professionally important qualities» are analyzed, according to which the concept is considered as biologically determined (physiological, psychological, innate abilities and inclinations), individual and psychological properties of a personality as a specialist as well as personal properties formed and developed in the process of training and professional activities. The author considers some classifications of professionally important qualities of a civil defense specialist. For any type of professional activity, such professionally important qualities as discipline, responsibility, accuracy, attentiveness, observation, sensitivity, punctuality, restraint, ingenuity, ability to self-control and professional self-assessment of one's own states and actions, purposefulness, developed visual and figurative memory and analytical thinking are relevant. Risky professions require physical endurance, coordination of movements, dexterity, ability to tolerate heavy physical loads and high temperatures, determination and courage, mental and emotional stability, risk-taking, ability to switch, distribute, concentrate and hold attention, react quickly to the situation and make independent decisions and act in extreme conditions, a sense of duty, etc. The following groups of professionally important qualities for civil defense specialists are identified and substantiated: psychophysiological, intellectual, emotional and volitional, moral and ethical, managerial and communicative. The possibilities of their formation and development in the process of cadets' professional training at a higher education institution are considered.