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Improving Memory Performance with Rhythmic Brain Activity (A03)

The Press Department of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum reports on their newsportal: Strobe light or acoustic stimulation can put the brain in the right rhythm. Patients could also benefit from this one day.

During certain mental processes, such as remembering, nerve cell networks in the brain generate a special rhythmic activity. Various stimuli, such as light or sounds, can influence these oscillations in brain activity – and this can improve memory. This is the conclusion reached by neuroscientists at the RUB, the University of Birmingham and Emory University Hospital in Atlanta in a review article in the journal “Trends in Neurosciences”, published online on June 6, 2019.

Light or sound as triggers

The authors have collected results from different studies and describe that brain oscillations can be triggered by different methods and that the rhythmization of brain activity can improve memory performance. Both invasive procedures such as deep brain stimulation and non-invasive techniques such as electromagnetic stimulation on the scalp, stroboscopic light or corresponding acoustic stimulation are possible. The neurons in the brain absorb the rhythm given by the stimulus.

Therapeutic approach for memory disorders

“Of course, many more studies are needed to fully understand this effect,” says Simon Hanslmayr of the University of Birmingham, lead author of the article. “But triggering rhythmic brain activity seems to be a promising way to improve memory performance, both in healthy people and in patients suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

It is well known that rhythmic brainwaves are important for shaping, maintaining, consolidating and recalling memories. “How exactly these cognitive abilities are related to brain oscillations needs to be further researched in order to develop effective treatments for people with memory impairment,” says Nikolai Axmacher.

Further research questions

According to the authors, future research work should deal with the following questions: What is the therapeutic potential of the rhythmisation of brain activity? How do different stimulation methods influence the results and how can virtual and augmented reality be used? Which neuronal mechanisms are influenced by brain oscillations in different frequency ranges and how are they related to memory?

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.