Memories Helping Us Understand World Get Stored Long-term, New Research Proposes
New research suggests that the usefulness of a memory in helping us understand the world determines its storage location in the brain. According to the classical view of systems consolidation, memories are believed to move from the hippocampus to the neocortex over time. However, recent studies have shown that certain memories continue to reside in the hippocampus despite the passage of time.
A collaborative research effort between the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the US and the University College London in the UK has put forward a mathematical neural network theory. The theory proposes that a memory consolidates to the neocortex, its permanent residence, only if it enhances generalization. This theory is published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
Generalization refers to the construction of reliable and predictable aspects of a memory that allow us to apply them to different situations and make sense of the world. For example, if we see a canyon, we predict the presence of water.
The theory suggests that consolidation involves creating a new memory based on previous memories, rather than simply copying memories from one part of the brain to another. Whether a memory is consolidated or remains in the hippocampus depends on how much material it provides for generalization, rather than its age, as discovered by the study using neural networks.
The next step for this research is conducting experimental studies to test the authors’ models regarding how the brain distinguishes between predictable and unpredictable aspects of memories during consolidation regulation.
Understanding how memory works, including its storage, is crucial for comprehending cognition and carries potential importance in the fields of human mental health and artificial intelligence.
In conclusion, this new research proposes that memories are stored long-term in the brain based on their usefulness in helping us understand the world. By consolidating memories to the neocortex through generalization, the brain creates a more efficient system for processing and applying information. Experimental studies will be conducted to further explore the theories put forward in this research, with the aim of deepening our understanding of memory and its role in cognition.
