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Enhancing cognition by affecting memory reconsolidation

Fully consolidated associative memories can undergo a retrieval-dependent reconsolidation process, which allows for the updating and strengthening of the original association. Limiting, or so-called boundary, conditions determine whether a particular retrieval event triggers reconsolidation. Manipulating memories at reconsolidation may offer an opportunity to improve cognitive capacities in humans by increasing memory persistence, specificity and accuracy. Also, preventing the reconsolidation of maladaptive memories that characterize some neuropsychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or drug addiction may offer a novel approach to treatment. Here we review recent advances in understanding and manipulating memory reconsolidation in both animals and humans, and discuss the potential of such interventions in cognitive enhancement.This work was supported by a UK Medical Research Council Programme Grant (G1002231) to B.J.E. and A.L.M. and was conducted in the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, and the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (BCNI), an initiative jointly funded by the MRC and the Wellcome Trust.This is the author accepted manuscript. It first appeared at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352154615000273#

Reconsolidation of appetitive memories for both natural and drug reinforcement is dependent on B-adrenergic receptors

We have investigated the neurochemical mechanisms of memory reconsolidation and, in particular, the functional requirement for intracellular mechanisms initiated by beta-adrenergic signaling. We show that propranolol, given in conjunction with a memory reactivation session, can specifically disrupt the conditioned reinforcing properties of a previously appetitively reinforced conditioned stimulus (CS), whether the stimulus had been associated with self-administered cocaine or with sucrose. These data show that memories for both drug and nondrug CS-US associations are dependent on beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated signaling for their reconsolidation, with implications for the potential development of a novel treatment for drug addiction and some forms of obesity

The challenge of memory destabilisation: From prediction error to prior expectations and biomarkers

The re-ignition of memory reconsolidation research sparked by Karim Nader in the early 2000s led to great excitement that ‘reconsolidation-based’ interventions might be developed for mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. Two decades on, it is clear that reconsolidation-based interventions have been more challenging to translate to the clinic than initially thought. We argue that this challenge could be addressed with a better understanding of how prior expectations interact with information presented in a putative memory reactivation / cue reminder session, and through the identification of non-invasive biomarkers for memory destabilisation that would allow reminder sessions to be ‘tuned’ to enhance memory lability in an ad hoc manner

Drink, drugs and disruption: Memory manipulation for the treatment of addiction

Addiction is a complex disorder, and one characterised by the acquisition of maladaptive instrumental (drug-seeking and drug-taking) and pavlovian (cue-drug associations) memories. These memories markedly contribute to the long-term risk of relapse, so reduction of the impact of these memories on behaviour could potentially be an important addition to current therapies for addiction. Memory reconsolidation may provide such a target for disrupting well-consolidated pavlovian cue-drug memories following an extensive drug history. Reconsolidation can be disrupted either by administering amnestic drugs in conjunction with a memory reactivation session, or by updating the memory adaptively through the induction of 'superextinction'. More work is needed before these therapies are ready for translation to the clinic, but if found clinically effective memory manipulation promises a radical new way of treating addiction.This work was supported by a UK Medical Research Council Programme Grant (no. 1002231) and was conducted in the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, funded by a joint award from the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust

The persistence of maladaptive memory: addiction, drug memories and anti-relapse treatments

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder, characterised by the long-term propensity of addicted individuals to relapse. A major factor that obstructs the attainment of abstinence is the persistence of maladaptive drug-associated memories, which can maintain drug-seeking and taking behaviour and promote unconscious relapse of these habits. Thus, addiction can be conceptualised as a disorder of aberrant learning of the formation of strong instrumental memories linking actions to drug-seeking and taking outcomes that ultimately are expressed as persistent stimulus-response habits; of previously neutral environmental stimuli that become associated with drug highs (and/or withdrawal states) through pavlovian conditioning, and of the subsequent interactions between pavlovian and instrumental memories to influence relapse behaviour. Understanding the psychological, neurobiological and molecular basis of these drug memories may produce new methods of pro-abstinence, anti-relapse treatments for addiction.This work was supported by a UK Medical Research Council grant (no. 9536855) to BJE, and was conducted in the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, funded by a joint award from the MRC and the Wellcome Trust

New Role of Leadership in AI Era: Educational Sector

Background: Educators are required to adapt and adopt digital technologies, methodologies, and mindsets as Higher Education sector becomes more competitive. Digital transformation is essential to be successful in new digital world. AI is the main component in the digital world specially in Digital transformation. Artificial Intelligence yields tremendous opportunities not only in teaching & learning but also in leadership. Leaders in Educational sectors are expected to be more prepared, adaptable, updated and aligned with the new technologies. This article attempts to analyse how the Role of Leadership is going to change with the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence. Aim: The main aim of this research article is to answer the following key questions. How is the Role of Leadership going to change with use of AI? What will be new set of competencies required by leaders in coming future? Does AI replace the Human role in leadership? Research Methodology: External Desk Research methodology is used here as the data is based on the material published in reports and similar documents that are available in public libraries, websites, data obtained from surveys already carried out, etc. Findings: Artificial Intelligence (AI) have changed the role of leadership in the aspect of IQ and EQ. The use of robust data analytics grounded in AI and machine learning techniques reveal new insights for educational applications. Hence the leaders of digital era in Educational Sectors should have Hard skills like cloud computing and Data flow to manage new technologies and soft skills to manage team as a package to lead the Higher Education to the top level