How aging shapes how we remember positive and negative life events
Official title: Bringing positive and negative events to mind: Effects of age on emotional memory retrieval
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11374509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how people over 21 recall good and bad memories differently as they age, and what brain patterns are involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $379,979 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075031-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374509 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are willing to participate in memory tasks and brain-imaging sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct clinical benefit, but findings could still advance knowledge about aging and memory.
What this research studies
If you’re an adult, this research looks at how memory for past events changes with age and how those memories feel and look in your mind. It uses brain imaging to see how patterns of activity differ when people recall positive versus negative moments. The study aims to link memory experiences to emotional well-being across the adult lifespan. The findings could help tailor approaches to support mental health and social functioning as people get older.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding emotional memory by age could inform strategies to promote healthier thinking and daily functioning across adulthood.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests age-related shifts in how memories are described and remembered, with promise for further elucidation through neural patterns.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kensinger, Elizabeth Ann — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Kensinger, Elizabeth Ann
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.