Have you ever wondered how your brain is able to soak up new information like a sponge? Or why certain memories stick whilst others fade away? My interest is to unravel the mysteries of how we learn and remember.

Our minds are fascinating – they are like vast libraries, filled with a lifetime of knowledge. When we learn something new, our brain compares it to what we already know, helping us make sense of it. This is known as prior knowledge or mental ‘schemas,’ a sort of mental roadmap that helps us navigate and organize new information. The more we know about a topic, the better we can understand and remember new information related to it. So, if you’re already an animal lover, learning about a new creature is a breeze because you can connect it to what you already know.

But what happens when our memory is not as sharp as it once was, such as the case in mild cognitive impairment or dementia? I am exploring ways to improve memory in these conditions and believe that that a deeper understanding of how memory works can lead to better treatments.