After5Boston - Dopamine & Memory: How Your Brain Decides What To Remember

A Conversation on Dopamine, Memory, and the Moments That Stick

Join us for Dopamine & Memory: How Your Brain Decides What To Remember, an engaging exploration of how dopamine, attention, emotion, and reward work together to shape the memories we keep. Together, we'll unpack the fascinating science behind why certain experiences stick with us, why others fade, and how our brains decide what moments are worth remembering.

What We'll Cover:
• How your brain creates memories - Explore how the brain takes in information, processes experiences, and turns certain moments into lasting memories.
• The role of dopamine in memory - Discover how dopamine, reward, and motivation influence what captures our attention and what gets stored for later.
• Why some moments stick - Examine how emotion, novelty, attention, and personal significance can make certain experiences more memorable than others.

Whether you're fascinated by neuroscience, curious about why you remember certain moments but forget others, or simply want to better understand how your brain works, you'll leave with a new appreciation for the incredible process happening behind the scenes every time you experience something new.

Don't miss this chance to connect with your After5Society.

About The Speaker:
Jacinda Taggett is a Program Administrator and neuroscience communicator based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently supporting a neurology research group at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. After training as a cognitive neuroscientist, including doctoral research at UCLA focused on the mechanisms of learning and memory, she shifted her focus toward science communication and public engagement. She is the founder of Academic Memories, a volunteer science communication organization with over 60 contributors, and of Remember Magazine, which gives college students hands-on experience in science journalism. Her neuroscience content on TikTok has earned over 3.5 million likes, and her work has been featured in outlets like The Boston Globe. She holds a BS in Quantitative Psychology from UC Davis and is pursuing an MS in Science Communication at Stony Brook University, with a focus on dopamine, cognition, and making neuroscience accessible to general audiences.

Good to know before you come:

• Exact bar location will be disclosed in your confirmation email
• Arrive early to grab a drink and get settled
• The speaker portion lasts 1 hour, with optional time to stay and socialize afterward
• This is a participatory event
• Seating is limited to keep the experience intimate