Optimizing memory in humans: neurophysiological modulation of motor memory acquisition and consolidation.

Humans have a fascinating ability to form memories. This function is essential as it is inextricably linked to our everyday life activities and underlies the building of our identity, knowledge as well as our motor and perceptual skills. The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying memory formation and consolidation - the process by which memory becomes more robust - are fairly well known. However, it remains very poorly investigated how these mechanisms can be optimized. The aim of this research program is to determine factors that can modulate memory formation and consolidation in humans with an ultimate goal of developing tools to optimize memory in both young and elderly individuals. We will use the motor memory system as a model to study memory optimization as it has the potential to provide groundbreaking new insights on this topic. In particular, the outcome of this research can have tremendous applications in the development of new neurorehabilitative approaches to help recovery of motor functions following injuries or neurodegenerative processes.

Keywords:humans, memory, neurophysiological modulation, motor memory

Disciplines:Neurosciences, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing