Enhancing (and studying) memory in the wild
Abstract:
Memory is essential for shaping how we interpret the world, plan for the future, and understand ourselves, yet effective cognitive interventions for real-world episodic memory loss remain scarce. This talk introduces HippoCamera, a smartphone-based intervention inspired by how the brain supports memory, designed to enhance real-world episodic recollection by capturing and replaying high-fidelity autobiographical cues. I will present how this approach improves episodic recall, differentiates hippocampal memory representations, and affects the emotional contents of real-world memories. Beyond demonstrating the benefits of this intervention, I will present research investigating which features of distinct real-world memories should be emphasized to maximize their perceived similarity. Together, this program of work illustrates how real-world memory can be both strengthened and systematically shaped.