Brain Treatment May Enhance Spatial Memory

According to an article in LiveScience, spatial memory can be improved by sending electrical impulses into the brain. With spatial memory being the culprit for lapses such as “Where did I leave my keys?” or “Do I take a left at this light, or a right?”, this study, if it proves effective in further, broader trials, could be the answer for many forgetful folks.

However, on an even broader scale, these deep-brain stimulation techniques could eventually be used for patients effected by Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The study itself was small, with only seven participants, who were treated to determine whether these techniques enhanced spatial memory in patients with epilepsy. Thus, with the small numbers and specific participants, many more studies are necessary before determining whether the findings could apply to people without epilepsy.

But scientists are hopefully that it not only will prove effective for better spatial memory for all patients, but also of the possibility of the technique being used to improve other types of memory, such as the ability to remember events in your life.

Pictured above is the cross-section of the hippocampus of a mouse. This photograph brilliantly displays the inner workings of the neurons in our brain’s memory center, as the somas of each individual neuron can be seen as small circles scattered throughout. The hippocampus is visible directly below the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres, otherwise known as the neocortex.