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Berlin-Bochum Memory Alliance ECR Meeting

Together with the FOR 2812 and the CRC 1315, the Early Career Researchers of the CRC 1280 participated in the Berlin-Bochum Memory Alliance ECR Meeting. The meeting took place from March 10 to 11 at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience in Berlin and offered two days of interaction with other researchers studying memory from different perspectives.

Program:

Monday (10.03.25)
12:00 Set-up and prep
14:00 Welcome & Ice-breaker
15:00 Scientific Exchange & Discussion
16:00 Big Discussion
Dinner with scientific discussions
18:00 Travel for Brain Awareness Week (BAW) Berlin Event
19:00 Brain Awareness Week (BAW)
20:00 End

Tuesday (11.03.25)
09:00 Set up and prep
10:00 Collaborative poster creation
Lunch
13:00 Follow-up Smart Figure Gallery creation, with Anna Nasr
15:00 Coffee Break
16:00 SFB1315 Lecture by Martin Both
17:00 Closing Remarks

More information about the Berlin-Bochum Memory Alliance can be found on the alliance’s website >>

Impressions from the collaborative poster session:

New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to “take better care of themselves” could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.