Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

news.mit.edu

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 88 posts

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#21

Post by he0001 »

cblconfederate wrote: post #14

I often wonder why universities post these press releases for the general public. Epigenetic modifications and memory is still basic research in early investigation, known to play a role in memory extinction and reconsolidation for example, but this is still too early research to make any concrete announcements that would have actionable information, esp. for the general public.

I believe it’s for the same purpose why we are seeing this. To reach a larger public audience than just the people at the faculty. I mean there might be others that work with this that may never hear about it and miss out on something. If they know the same things, well then it was just x minutes of wasted time.

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#22

Post by PicassoCTs »

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #13

Maybe one day we'll have pills to have total recall for a few hours, wouldn't that be cool for exams and learning languages ? I much prefer that than a chip in my head which the silicon valley seems super keen on selling me.

Imagine having product related flash-backs, this is the advertisement of the future. Hackernews coloured menue bars, trigger a urge to buy Fanta.

The power of the market compels your good idea to turn evil.

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#23

Post by mrtksn »

jcims wrote: post #19
BiteCode_dev wrote: post #13

Maybe one day we'll have pills to have total recall for a few hours, wouldn't that be cool for exams and learning languages ? I much prefer that than a chip in my head which the silicon valley seems super keen on selling me.

My memory is generally terrible. One discovery that was alarming, encouraging and disturbing at the same time is that I do appear to have some form of nearly total recall buried in there somewhere. Unfortunately it only surfaces in one way. If I listen to a podcast while I’m doing something, then listen to that same podcast again within a week or so, I will have regular, intrusive visual recall of exactly what I was…

Oh definitely, making one part of the brain work together with the other part will help me remember either of those when I do one ore the other at later time.

For example, I occasionally play Pubg Mobile and while I do it I ikte listening to some podcasts on a topic I do work. When it comes to apply something that I learned from the podcast I will can have a recall on where exactly I was in the game when this particular topic was discussed.

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#24

Post by doitLP »

jcims wrote: post #19
BiteCode_dev wrote: post #13

Maybe one day we'll have pills to have total recall for a few hours, wouldn't that be cool for exams and learning languages ? I much prefer that than a chip in my head which the silicon valley seems super keen on selling me.

My memory is generally terrible. One discovery that was alarming, encouraging and disturbing at the same time is that I do appear to have some form of nearly total recall buried in there somewhere. Unfortunately it only surfaces in one way. If I listen to a podcast while I’m doing something, then listen to that same podcast again within a week or so, I will have regular, intrusive visual recall of exactly what I was…

I have the same, but notice it more with audiobooks. An entire year can go by and I will get a flash of where I was at a precise moment in the book exactly as you describe.

Something similar was as a teenager: I could remember when/where I learned or first heard a new word. Sadly that ability has been waning.

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#25

Post by quonn »

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #13

Maybe one day we'll have pills to have total recall for a few hours, wouldn't that be cool for exams and learning languages ? I much prefer that than a chip in my head which the silicon valley seems super keen on selling me.

Wouldn‘t that just make these exams (more) pointless? Non scholae, sed vitae discimus ...

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#26

Post by 20after4 »

jcims wrote: post #19
BiteCode_dev wrote: post #13

Maybe one day we'll have pills to have total recall for a few hours, wouldn't that be cool for exams and learning languages ? I much prefer that than a chip in my head which the silicon valley seems super keen on selling me.

My memory is generally terrible. One discovery that was alarming, encouraging and disturbing at the same time is that I do appear to have some form of nearly total recall buried in there somewhere. Unfortunately it only surfaces in one way. If I listen to a podcast while I’m doing something, then listen to that same podcast again within a week or so, I will have regular, intrusive visual recall of exactly what I was…

I've noticed a sort of similar thing, though not nearly as vivid as what you describe. What I find is that listening to a song will trigger very specific memories of the place, time and feelings that I was experiencing when I first listened to that song. Or if not the first time I heard a song it will be from when I was listening to it regularly because it was new to me at that time. When this happens it's always especially vivid and compelling memory recall that is unlike any other I've experienced.

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#27

Post by cblconfederate »

he0001 wrote: post #21
cblconfederate wrote: post #14

I often wonder why universities post these press releases for the general public. Epigenetic modifications and memory is still basic research in early investigation, known to play a role in memory extinction and reconsolidation for example, but this is still too early research to make any concrete announcements that would have actionable information, esp. for the general public.

I believe it’s for the same purpose why we are seeing this. To reach a larger public audience than just the people at the faculty. I mean there might be others that work with this that may never hear about it and miss out on something. If they know the same things, well then it was just x minutes of wasted time.

you dont need a layman's explanation for that. This is addressed to the general audience, not to colleagues.

Re: Neuroscientists discover molecular mechanism that allows memories to form (2020)

#28

Post by cblconfederate »

culopatin wrote: post #17
cblconfederate wrote: post #14

I often wonder why universities post these press releases for the general public. Epigenetic modifications and memory is still basic research in early investigation, known to play a role in memory extinction and reconsolidation for example, but this is still too early research to make any concrete announcements that would have actionable information, esp. for the general public.

Because people need something to talk about and universities benefit from the publicity perhaps?

well people don't know what they re talking about when it's about so specialized basic research. Universities do benefit from the publicity , but it feels like selling snake oil to naive people.
Post reply on HN