Brain Implant Improves Memory

When it comes to improving memory, being in the right place at the right time could be key. Scientists are figuring out how to do that. Michael Kahana, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and his team developed an experimental brain stimulation technique that improves memory by applying a pulse of electricity directly to the brain when and where it’s needed most. In an early demonstration, they say their approach improved word recall in epilepsy patients by 15 percent. It’s the result of decades of research that’s being funded by the military’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to decode brain signals. Although there’s a lot more work to be done, Kahana and colleagues believe they’re getting closer to developing implantable devices that could help veterans who have experienced brain trauma. Direct brain stimulation is a standard tool to block symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. There’s also ...