The research team, led by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University, last year reported that timed electrical pulses from implanted electrodes could reliably aid recall. The research team tested the memory aid in 25 people with epilepsy who were being evaluated for an operation. Cognitive scientists use this period, with patients’ consent, to give memory tests and take recordings. In the study, the research team determined the precise patterns for each person’s high-functioning state, when memory storage worked well in the brain, and low-functioning mode, when it did not. Some lists were memorized with the brain stimulation system turned on; others were done with it turned off, for comparison.

Source: New York Times February 06, 2018 18:49 UTC