Diving into the Past: A Personal Insight into My Initial Year of Research Endeavors
Angel Toasakul, Natural Sciences Correspondent
At Princeton University, a student's journey in the fascinating world of neuroscience unfolds, as they delve deep into the intricacies of human memory, particularly its emotional consequences in trauma-based memories.
This student, who prefers to remain unnamed, found their mentor in the work of Professor Kenneth Norman at the Princeton Computational Memory Lab. Their interest in neuroscience was sparked by a fascination with memory and its impact on shaping lives.
The student's research journey began as a full-time research assistant, where they learned the ropes of navigating literature, refining hypotheses, and designing experiments. This hands-on experience equipped them with the necessary skills to tackle complex neuroscience research.
During the summer, they spent an enriching period as an intern in the Norman Lab through the Office of Undergraduate Research Student Initiated Program (OURSIP). This opportunity allowed them to immerse themselves further in the lab's research, focusing on human memory, specifically on the brain and mind overcoming the emotional consequences of trauma-based memories.
Now, the student is continuing their research in the Norman Lab through the NEU250: Neuroscience Research Experience course. They are not yet ready to reveal any specific new findings or developments in their research but are eager to contribute to the ongoing discourse in the field.
The Norman Lab, led by Kenneth A. Norman, typically studies computational models of memory, including how memories are represented and retrieved in the brain. While their current research focus on traumatic memories and PTSD is not explicitly detailed, their broader focus includes memory processes that could relate to traumatic memory encoding and retrieval relevant to PTSD.
Another researcher at Princeton, Nina Rouhani, with a joint PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience, focuses on computational processes governing learning, memory, and decision-making, with an interest in scaling these models to real-world and social contexts. Although her current lab and research focus on social decision-making, her background suggests relevance to computational memory frameworks that could be applied to trauma and PTSD research.
As the student continues their research, they are eager to explore the potential of fMRI neurofeedback in improving the brain's ability to control memory, particularly in mitigating PTSD symptoms. fMRI neurofeedback works by recording brain signals and comparing them to successful task completion patterns, stimulating learning and helping participants improve.
The student's journey serves as a testament to the opportunities available for undergraduate students at Princeton University to engage in cutting-edge neuroscience research. Through workshops, lunches, and the final research symposium organized by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), students can gain valuable experiences and connections that propel their research careers forward.
[1] For more detailed and latest information about the Norman Lab's PTSD-related research, checking the lab’s official website or recent publications directly would be advisable.
- The student, working under Professor Kenneth Norman at Princeton University's Computational Memory Lab, conducts undergraduate research focusing on the brain and mind overcoming the emotional consequences of trauma-based memories, particularly in the context of PTSD.
- As an engagement in education-and-self-development, the student is now delving deeper into the Norman Lab's research, including the potential application of fMRI neurofeedback therapies-and-treatments for mitigating PTSD symptoms.
- In addition to the Norman Lab, another researcher at Princeton, Nina Rouhani, with a joint PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience, explores computational processes in learning, memory, and decision-making, which could potentially be relevant to trauma and PTSD research.
