Prof. Nitzan Censor

Uncovering the dynamic nature of procedural memories: A gateway to understanding learning and forgetting.

A vital property of the brain is its capacity to undergo plastic changes, manifested as changes in behavioral performance. Understanding how the brain enables perceptual and skill learning is a basic scientific question with far reaching implications. Our research investigates the link between the way by which perceptual and motor memories are formed and modified in the human brain, and the resulting learning which enables skill improvements over time. To understand the mechanisms by which learning and memory are modulated over time, we use a multimodal approach combining behavioral psychophysics, non-invasive brain stimulation, and neuroimaging. In addition, we are interested in how the identified learning mechanisms operate across learning domains. Gaining a detailed understanding of learning dynamics may carry practical implications geared to enhance learning in daily life, in learning impairments, and in aging populations.