Reading and gently improving memory during wake and sleep
Decoding and Selective Modulation of Human Memory During Awake/Sleep Cycles
This project looks at reading brain signals and using gentle wake and sleep techniques to help people with memory problems like Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145741 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part in sessions where researchers record your brain activity while you experience natural, everyday events and again during sleep. Advanced sensors and AI will try to identify the brain patterns that form and consolidate memories, and researchers may deliver gentle cues such as quiet sounds timed to sleep rhythms to strengthen those memories. The team links detailed brain recordings across awake and sleep cycles to more naturalistic memories rather than brief lab tests. The work is experimental and performed at UCLA with the goal of developing new memory-support approaches for people with Alzheimer's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults with early memory problems or mild cognitive impairment related to Alzheimer's who can travel to UCLA for brain-recording and sleep visits.
Not a fit: People with very advanced dementia, serious medical conditions that prevent participation, or those unable to attend in-person or overnight sessions are unlikely to benefit from joining this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to strengthen memory and slow memory loss in people with Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Some earlier studies show that gentle sounds during sleep can boost memory in healthy people and in mild cases, but combining detailed human brain decoding with targeted wake/sleep modulation is a newer and experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fried, Itzhak — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Fried, Itzhak
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.