Understanding how memories are formed while people move through real-world environments.
Official title: Capturing Autobiographical memory formation in People moving Through real-world spaces Using synchronized wearables and intracranial Recordings of EEG
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11053575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our memories are made by using smartphones and brain recordings, especially to help people with Alzheimer's disease, so we can find new ways to improve memory and thinking in daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $897,419 |
| NIH project number | 5R61MH135109-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia who are experiencing memory-related challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no cognitive impairments or those who do not have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how autobiographical memories are formed by combining wearable devices like smartphones with advanced brain recordings. By using synchronized audio-visual, accelerometry, and neural data, the study aims to capture the brain's processes during real-life experiences. This approach seeks to provide insights into how memory functions, especially in individuals with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. The goal is to develop new methods for enhancing memory and cognition in everyday life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments that improve memory and cognitive function for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While the integration of wearable technology and intracranial recordings is a novel approach, similar studies have shown promise in understanding cognitive processes in controlled environments.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Inman, Cory Shields — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Inman, Cory Shields
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Evaluating a new injectable contraceptive for women
This study is testing a new long-lasting birth control shot called levonorgestrel butanoate, especially for women who are overweight and at risk for blood clots, to see if it works well and is safe without the added hormones found in other methods.
-
Understanding how cells respond to changes in membrane tension
This study looks at how yeast cells react when their outer layer gets stretched or squeezed due to changes in their environment, helping us understand how they stay healthy and function properly.
-
A program to lead and conduct clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers.
This study is all about finding better treatments for gastrointestinal cancers, and it invites patients to join exciting clinical trials at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, where expert doctors are working together to discover new therapies that could help improve their health.
-
New treatment for high phosphate levels in kidney disease patients
This study is testing a new way to help people with chronic kidney disease and those on dialysis lower their high phosphate levels in the blood by using special materials that can quickly and safely remove excess phosphate, offering a better option than current treatments.
-
Testing new treatments to help manage epilepsy
This study is looking at new treatments and devices to help people with epilepsy, especially those who have trouble with their current medications, to see if they can better control their seizures and improve their daily lives.
-
Exploring how flexible emotion regulation affects stress and emotional disorders in ethnic minority college students
This study looks at how college students from different ethnic backgrounds handle their feelings when faced with everyday stress, like discrimination and money worries, to see how this affects their anxiety and depression, and it aims to provide helpful insights for them.
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.