How what you already know could shape new memories
Official title: Positive and negative impacts of prior knowledge on episodic memory consolidation
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11386702 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how what you already know affects how new memories are stored over time in the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $361,830 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS144152-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386702 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older who can provide informed consent and have varying levels of prior knowledge or life experiences.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals under 21, those unable to consent, or with conditions that prevent participation in MRI research.
What this research studies
Researchers will use brain imaging to study how prior knowledge changes the way new experiences are learned and remembered. The study focuses on how memories become stable and integrated into existing brain networks, potentially speeding up consolidation. By examining adults with diverse backgrounds, the project aims to reveal how knowledge influences the quality and organization of lasting memories. The work will help us understand memory changes in everyday life and in memory-related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve approaches for memory-related difficulties by tailoring strategies to how prior knowledge shapes learning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests prior knowledge can influence memory formation, with newer findings exploring how this shapes durable memory representations.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tompary, Alexa — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Tompary, Alexa
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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.