How new or surprising events change unpleasant learning and memory
The role of novelty and surprise in aversive conditioning
This project looks at whether surprising events help people remember unpleasant experiences, which could be relevant to memory problems like Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11377848 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is studying how novelty and surprise affect memory for negative or scary events by combining behavioral tests and brain measures. They use tasks that introduce unexpected events and then sometimes add a distracting stimulus right after to see if that interrupts memory. The researchers will measure chemicals in the brain (like norepinephrine and dopamine) and hippocampal activity that are linked to memory formation. Work draws on both human observations and animal experiments to understand the timing and mechanisms of how surprise boosts memory.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would likely include adults with memory concerns (for example, mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's) and healthy volunteers willing to take part in memory tests and brief brain-measurement sessions.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, severe communication barriers, or unrelated medical conditions that prevent participation in behavioral testing are unlikely to benefit directly from taking part.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to support memory or slow memory decline by targeting the brain chemicals or timing involved in surprise-enhanced learning.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human studies have shown that novelty and surprise can boost memory and involve norepinephrine and dopamine, but translating these mechanisms into treatments for diseases is still experimental.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wiltgen, Brian J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Wiltgen, Brian J
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 below.