Neural Mechanisms Underlying Memory Control
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Abstract
We have all had moments in which an object or event reminds us of an experience that we would prefer not think about. When this happens, we often attempt to stop retrieval and exclude the unpleasant reminding from awareness. Such efforts at memory control are an unfortunately ubiquitous experience in the aftermath of trauma. This project seeks to understand the cognitive and neural mechanisms that enable people to control unwanted memories. The basic research will develop a theoretical framework for understanding how people control intrusive remindings by facilitating a deeper understanding of how attention interacts with long-term memory. A core hypothesis of this framework is that people engage mechanisms similar to those involved in suppressing reflexive actions to suppress memory retrieval, reducing activity in brain structures involved in memory, reducing a memory’s intrusiveness. Basic research specifying the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms of memory control has the promise to inform theories of clinical syndromes characterized by disordered thought control such as PTSD (intrusive flashbacks), depression (unwanted ruminations), ADHD (distractability), obsessive compulsive disorder (obsessive thoughts) and addiction (craving related thoughts). In so doing, the current work could have a substantial positive impact on our ability to provide treatment to those suffering from such disorders.
Technical Summary
This project seeks to understand the cognitive and neural mechanisms that enable people to control unwanted memories. Recent work by Anderson has found that when people confront a reminder to an experience that they would prefer not to think about, they engage executive control mechanisms often recruited to override prepotent motor responses to suppress retrieval. This work has led to a theoretical perspective in which memory control is accomplished by an attention system that interacts with memory and that is governed by principles and components isomorphic to those involved in perceptual orienting of attention. A key process is attentional inhibition, which is triggered by conflict between the goal-directed focus of attention and the focus demanded by reflexive orienting to abrupt onsets in mnemonic space. Attentional inhibition is conceptualized as a flexible component of task set that can be recruited when conflict is expected or present, to override reflexive memorial orienting. The current project aims to evaluate key hypotheses, including (a) the hippocampal modulation hypothesis, according to which memory control is affected by down-regulating mnemonic activity in the hippocampus, (b) the mnemonic attention hypothesis, in which memory intrusions constitute cases of mnemonic reflexive orienting that build on the same neural mechanisms engaged to reflexively orient attention to events in the perceptual world, (c) the response override hypothesis, in which mnemonic control is accomplished by brain mechanisms involved in overriding prepotent motor actions, and (d) the motivated forgetting hypothesis, in which memory control mechanisms lead to selective forgetting of unwanted events. The approach to this question will combine traditional cognitive methods, developed by Anderson, a new approach to measuring intrusions, as well as fMRI and EEG. If correct, this view stands to forge a highly specific connection between research on attention and long-term memory that will move beyond the simple observation that attention can be directed to memory to the nature of mnemonic attention system itself. This work will specify a rich framework in which to understand how people control unwanted memories of the past. Such insights are not merely of theoretical significance, but of potentially profound practical importance in understanding and ameliorating the conditions of those suffering from intrusive memories.
Organisations
- University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- Zhejiang University, China (Collaboration)
- Shinshu University (Collaboration)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- Southwest University (Collaboration)
- University of Kent, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Collaboration)
- University of British Columbia, Canada (Collaboration)
- Boston University, United States (Collaboration)
- University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Collaboration)
- Granada University (Collaboration)
- University of Mannheim (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Collaboration)
- Peking University, China (Collaboration)
- Yale University (Collaboration)
- University of York, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (Collaboration)
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada (Collaboration)
- UNLISTED (Collaboration)
- University of California, San Diego, United States (Collaboration)
- Champalimaud Foundation (Collaboration)
- Bournemouth University, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- King's College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Argentina) (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Michael Rik Anderson (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Anderson MC
(2022)
Prefrontal-hippocampal interactions supporting the extinction of emotional memories: the retrieval stopping model.
in Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Anderson MC
(2021)
Active Forgetting: Adaptation of Memory by Prefrontal Control.
in Annual review of psychology
Apšvalka D
(2019)
Fluid intelligence and working memory support dissociable aspects of learning by physical but not observational practice.
in Cognition
Apšvalka D
(2022)
Dynamic targeting enables domain-general inhibitory control over action and thought by the prefrontal cortex.
in Nature communications
Apšvalka D
(2018)
Observing Action Sequences Elicits Sequence-Specific Neural Representations in Frontoparietal Brain Regions.
in The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Apšvalka D
(2018)
Anodal tDCS over Primary Motor Cortex Provides No Advantage to Learning Motor Sequences via Observation.
in Neural plasticity
Bekinschtein P
(2018)
A retrieval-specific mechanism of adaptive forgetting in the mammalian brain.
in Nature communications
Canosa A
(2021)
Brain metabolic changes across King's stages in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography study.
in European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging
Castiglione A
(2019)
Preventing a Thought from Coming to Mind Elicits Increased Right Frontal Beta Just as Stopping Action Does.
in Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
| Description | Emerging Research Leader's Development Programme (ERLDP) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Enrolled in the Emerging Research Leader's Development Programme (ERLDP) offered by the University of Cambridge. The program was composed of 4 sessions (3 workshops and 1 chalk talk). |
| Description | Talk at the Royal Society Workshop on Human Transformation and Digital Technologies |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | BNPA Award |
| Amount | £60 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Neuropsychiatry Association |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists |
| Amount | £229,692 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Blavatnik Family Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | BrainStorm Neuroscience Pitch Competition 2018 |
| Amount | $30,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Mind Science Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | CHU Caen Normandy Mobility Fund |
| Amount | € 25,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | University Hospital Centre Caen (CHU Caen) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | France |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | CUHK postgraduate studentship |
| Amount | HK$162,225 (HKD) |
| Organisation | Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | Cambridge International Scholarship |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Cambridge Commonwealth Trust |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | EPS Study Visit Grant |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Experimental Psychology Society (EPS) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Erasmus+ |
| Amount | € 2,520 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Erasmus + |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2019 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Erasmus+ Traineeship Grant (SMP) |
| Amount | € 5,890 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Erasmus + |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Ernest Walton STEM Bursary |
| Amount | € 8,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Government of Ireland |
| Department | Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Ireland |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Description | Experimental Psychology Society Travel Grant |
| Amount | £150 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Experimental Psychology Society (EPS) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 01/2019 |
| Description | Gates Cambridge Scholarship |
| Amount | £52,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Gates Cambridge Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | ISEF postdoctoral fellowship |
| Amount | $6,500 (USD) |
| Organisation | ISEF Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Knud Højgaards Fond |
| Amount | 10,000 kr. (DKK) |
| Organisation | Knud Højgaard Foundation |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Denmark |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 02/2021 |
| Description | MRC PhD studentship |
| Amount | £91,484 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | Mind Science BrainStorm Neuroscience Pitch Competition |
| Amount | $15,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Mind Science Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 02/2023 |
| Description | NWO Rubicon grant |
| Amount | € 180,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 019.183SG.007 |
| Organisation | Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | Proteintech Bursary, British Neuroscience Association |
| Amount | £200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Neuroscience Association |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Royal Society Newton Fellowship |
| Amount | £66,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2017 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Description | St Edmund's College Santander Fund |
| Amount | £1,537 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | St Edmund's College |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | St Edmund's College Student Support Fund |
| Amount | £300 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | St Edmund's College |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 08/2019 |
| Description | Vice Chancellor's Award |
| Amount | £68,613 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Cambridge Commonwealth Trust |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Virtual Conference Grant |
| Amount | £213 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Murray Edwards College |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2020 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | William Demant-Fonden |
| Amount | 10,000 kr. (DKK) |
| Organisation | William Demant Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Denmark |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 02/2021 |
| Description | A simultaneous EEG/fMRI study of the ability to suppress unwanted thoughts. |
| Organisation | Southwest University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We contributed to the design of the study, and trained researchers to run it. We are analysing the data in depth We will write the papers |
| Collaborator Contribution | They implemented and ran the study, and contributed to its analysis. |
| Impact | none yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Cross-cultural study of autobiographical retrieval induced forgetting |
| Organisation | University of Granada |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Day-2-day: resting-state fMRI and psychological change during the menstrual cycle |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Department | Max Planck Institute for Human Development |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Decoding EEG pattern in reinstatement and suppression |
| Organisation | University of Hong Kong |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Dietary effects on the ability to suppress intrusive memories |
| Organisation | Yale University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Effects of hormonal variation during the menstrual cycle on the ability to control unwanted thoughts |
| Organisation | Ben-Gurion University of the Negev |
| Country | Israel |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Impact of ageing on direct forgetting as assessed by cortical thickness |
| Organisation | University of Southern California |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Impact of frontal lesions on suppressing unwanted memories |
| Organisation | Bournemouth University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Impact of non-invasive brain stimulation of anterior cingulate cortex on retrieval-induced forgetting |
| Organisation | University of Hong Kong |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Impact of transcranial electrical stimulation on interference control mechanisms |
| Organisation | Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled-in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled-in... |
| Impact | To be filled-in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Impact of trauma history on brain mechanisms involved in memory control |
| Organisation | University of Mannheim |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Isolating a Beta Signature of Inhibitory Control over Thought with Time Frequency Analysis |
| Organisation | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
| Department | Department of Psychology |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I collaborated with Adam Aron to design the study and trained his student. I guided the interpretation of the study. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They contributed to the design of the study, ran the study, and analysed it, and now they are writing it up. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Meta-analysis of retrieval suppression findings |
| Organisation | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Pathways underlying suppression of amygdala activity during the control of unwanted memories |
| Organisation | Boston University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Pathways underlying suppression of amygdala activity during the control of unwanted memories |
| Organisation | University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz |
| Department | German Resilience Centre |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Pre-frontal-thalamic pathways mediating inhibitory control over the hippocampus |
| Organisation | Champalimaud Foundation |
| Department | Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Relationship between retrieval suppression and extinction of emotional memories |
| Organisation | University of British Columbia |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Repeated retrieval of generalized memories can impair specific autobiographical recall: a retrieval induced forgetting account |
| Organisation | Shinshu University |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | Matsumoto, N, Mochizuki, S, Marsh, L.C, Kawaguchi, J. (2021). Repeated retrieval of generalized memories can impair specific autobiographical recall: a retrieval induced forgetting account. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. DOI: 10.1037/xge0001028. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Retrieval-Induced Forgetting in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Suppression of morally unacceptable memories and thoughts |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The effect of sleep deprivation on the ability to suppress intrusive thoughts |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Department | Department of Psychology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We supplied the materials, procedure, code, and design for the study. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators are skilled sleep researchers. They implemented and conducted the study in a sleep lab, with EEG recordings, and are analysing and writing up the data. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | The role of RAC1 in retrieval-induced forgetting in rodents |
| Organisation | National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Argentina) |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The role of disturbed memory inhibition in obsessive compulsive disorder |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Department of Psychology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The role of memory inhibition in disrupted reconsolidation |
| Organisation | Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya |
| Department | Baruch Ivchur School of Psychology |
| Country | Israel |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | The role of nucleus reuniens in voluntary memory suppression |
| Organisation | Boston University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | The role of retrieval-induced forgetting in regulating emotions -- an fMRI study |
| Organisation | Peking University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The role of the medial temporal lobes in memory |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Data analysis, interpretation of results, preparing manuscripts for publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data sharing, data analysis, interpretation of results, preparation of reports and publications. |
| Impact | No additional publication yet, though several manuscripts are in preparation. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | The role of the medial temporal lobes in memory |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Data analysis, interpretation of results, preparing manuscripts for publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data sharing, data analysis, interpretation of results, preparation of reports and publications. |
| Impact | No additional publication yet, though several manuscripts are in preparation. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Using pupilometry to measure the dynamics of memory control |
| Organisation | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We contributed the materials and design of the study, and trained the researchers. We will contribute to the interpretation of the data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They contributed to the design of the study and the pupilometry methods. They are running the study and analysing it, and writing it up. |
| Impact | none yet |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | fMRI Retrieval-Induced Forgetting study with Skin-Conductance Response |
| Organisation | Zhejiang University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Collaborator Contribution | To be filled in... |
| Impact | To be filled in... |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The forgotten part of memory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Anderson interviewed about the ability to forget by scientific journalist Lauren Gravitz |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02211-5 |
| Description | Why Forgetfulness Might Actually Help You |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Why Forgetfulness Might Actually Help You. By Sue Shellenbarger, The Wall Street Journal. January 22, 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | "New Memory Science Shows That Sometimes, It's Better To Forget" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Radio interview/discussion given to Texas Public Radio |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | BrainBus school visits |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Subbulakshmi Sankarasubramanian participated in BrainBus visiting two schools providing outreach experience to underprivileged children, exposing them to subjects, careers and role models which they would not otherwise access. Laura Marsh was part of the BrainBus team, held design and deliver neuroscience outreach project in primary schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/brain-bus/ |
| Description | CamBrain Student Division |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Laura Marsh is a CamBrain Executive Committee Member - student division of Cambridge Neuroscience Network, organising talks, panel discussions, journal clubs, career events and social events and more for early career neuroscientists at Cambridge. - Since March 2020 they have been running events online, including journal clubs, talks and social events. These have been attended by Cambridge neuroscience students and early career researchers, and also by the broader national and international neuroscience community. Journal clubs run on a weekly basis during term-time, with a typical attendance of between 12-20 people. These involve a brief presentation followed by an extended discussion of the findings and broader topic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | CamBrain, Cambridge Neuroscience |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Laura Marsh was on the committee for CamBrain, the student division of the Cambridge Neuroscience Network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Can't stop thinking unwanted thoughts? This could be why |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Can't stop thinking unwanted thoughts? This could be why. By Michael Harthorne, Fox News, November 6, 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Creative Reactions at Pint of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Laura Marsh was on the organisation committee for the 2019 'Creative Reactions' event, which is an art-science collaboration that happens annually as part of Pint of Science. We organised an exhibition of artworks that were produced by over 50 artist-scientist collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | For some, experiencing trauma may act as a form of cognitive training that increases their mental control |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | For some, experiencing trauma may act as a form of cognitive training that increases their mental control. By Emma Young, BPS Research Digest, August 22, 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | How Your Brain Helps You Stop Thinking About Something |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | How Your Brain Helps You Stop Thinking About Something. By Kastalia Medrano, Newsweek, November 3, 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | How alcohol, time and trying to forget trauma can change what we remember |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | How alcohol, time and trying to forget trauma can change what we remember. By Nsikan Akpan, PBSO News Hours, September 27, 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | How training rats to forget can help humans |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Michael Anderson on 'Science in Action' show 'Our Geological Junk' (BBC) discussing the similarities between the way rats and human forget, and how understanding the active forgetting mechanisms could help in treating traumatic conditions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Keeping a spotless mind: the neuroscience of motivated forgetting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I took part in an "open to the public" conference on the nature of forgetting, in which I joined 8 other scientists to give talks on forgetting to an audience of practitioners and students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit Open Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Conducted a demonstration about our research in Memory Control Lab (e.g., 12 visitors performed the retrieval-induced forgetting task) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit's science night and open day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Laura Marsh Volunteered for the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit's science night and open day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/blog/2019/01/mrc-cbu-science-night-cambridge-science-festival-2019/ |
| Description | Mind Science Foundation's Brainstorm |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Subbulakshmi Sankarasubramanian participated and spoke at the Mind Science Foundation's Brainstorm 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mindscience.org/programs-initiatives/brainstorm/ |
| Description | Murray Edwards College 'She Talks Science' Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | On 23rd June 2021, Laura Marsh gave a talk entitled "What is cognitive neuroscience and how do you do it?" to an audience of Year 12 students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Need To Forget A Memory? Focus On A Competing One, New Study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Need To Forget A Memory? Focus On A Competing One, New Study. By Andréa Morris, Forbes, November 07, 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Neuroscientists have discovered an important clue about how we push away negative thoughts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Neuroscientists have discovered an important clue about how we push away negative thoughts. By Erin Brodwin, Business Insider UK, November 7, 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Newton International Fellows induction day at the Royal Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Maite Crespo-Garcia was invited to take part in the Research Spotlights session during the Newton International Fellows induction day at the Royal Society in London in May 13th, 2019. Delivered a flash presentation about her work to a broad audience of researchers from different disciplines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Pembroke Circle Talk at Pembroke College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | To communicate the science of our laboratory to members of the Pembroke college broader community |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/college/events/pembroke-circle-lecture |
| Description | Pint of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Maite Crespo-Garcia contributed to the Pint of Science event that was organized in Cambridge in May 22nd, 2019. She was one of the speakers of the Beautiful Mind section, within a part called "Forget what you know about memory". The talk was entitled "The bright life of forgetting". The event also included a "Creative Reactions" section where an artist made artworks based on his interpretation of the talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Researchers uncover a brain process that may help explain the curse of uncontrollable thoughts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Researchers uncover a brain process that may help explain the curse of uncontrollable thoughts. By Alex Fradera, BPS Research Digest, December 19, 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Science Fiction Double Feature Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Dr Michael Anderson discusses motivated forgetting and memory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogendorff.com/2019/07/08/episode-14-book-of-m/ |
| Description | Science week series of panel events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Laura Marsh gave career talks in secondary school for Science Week. She gave a series of talks about careers in science research at a London secondary school to years 9, 10-11, and 12-13, as part of a science week series of panel events. She spoke about career paths, what researchers actually do, own research, followed by an extended period for questions and discussion with the students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Scientists find key to unwanted thoughts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Scientists find key to unwanted thoughts. BBC News, November 3, 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Seminar at Darwin College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Giulia Barsuola gave a talk on "The Effect of Inhibitory Control over Negative Autobiographical Memories" at the Science Seminars Series Lent 2020, Darwin College, University of Cambridge, on March 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Talk at Homerton College, University of Cambridge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Subbulakshmi Sankarasubramanian gave a talk at Homerton Research Suppers, a public outreach talk aimed at the wider Homerton community (March 2020). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | The science of forgetting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | "Of course, severe memory loss can be devastating, but forgetting isn't always a bad thing. Some memories are painful or distracting to remember, and an ability to suppress these memories can be useful. Katie Haylor met forgetting expert Michael Anderson from Cambridge University." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Trinity College Medical Society Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Medical students interested in neuroscience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |