New research has revealed that the part of the brain responsible for for processing memory is fighting in babies as new as three month old , despite not being fully formed yet . bang as the hippocampus , this key brainiac realm typically takes a few years to mature , and this drawn-out development process is often cited as an explanation for ourinability to remember our former babyhood .
The uncovering that the hippocampus can in fact encodememoriesin young babies therefore aviate in the face of everything we thought we jazz about the infant brain . write in the journalCurrent Biology , the source of this latest subject area introduce a new theory , suggesting that young babies are open of “ statistical encyclopedism ” but ca n’t yet form episodic memories .
Statistical learning refers to the power to discern , understand and call patterns that help us make sensation of our environment . occasional computer storage involve the recall of specific events . Previously , it had been assumed that such a capacitance for statistical encyclopedism only arises after the ontogeny ofepisodic retentiveness , yet the study generator say their findings contradict this conjecture .
“ A fundamental enigma about human nature is that we recollect almost nothing from nascence through early puerility , yet we learn so much decisive entropy during that time – our first language , how to walk , objects and foods , and social bonds , ” said senior study author Professor Nick Turk - Browne in astatement .
To unravel this whodunit , the research worker scanned the brain of 17 infant , aged between three calendar month and two years , while they observe two separate serial of images . One of these consisted of random , unconnected pictures , while the other take mental image that appeared in a integrated sequence , with a clear pattern that could be learned .
Results showed that activity in thehippocampusincreased after respect the structured chronological succession of images in all babies , disregarding of how developed their genus Hippocampus was . The researchers concluded that the years and size of the genus Hippocampus have no bearing on the brainiac ’s content for statistical learning .
Interestingly , though , they discover that the activity enkindle by honor these pattern picture occurred predominantly in the anterior regions of the hippocampus , which are typically not associated with occasional memory board formation . As the brain grows during the first few year of life , the ulterior genus Hippocampus expand significantly , and it is this region that is trust to be responsible for episodic memory .
The research worker pen in the composition that “ statistical learning can occur within the hippocampus itself in a way that short-circuit the circuitry for episodic retentiveness . Thus , the genus Hippocampus may affirm statistical learning in baby , as describe in this study , before it can support episodic memory . ”
“ As these electric circuit changes occur , we eventually obtain the power to store memories , ” explains Turk - Browne . “ But our research shows that even if we ca n’t think back babe experiences later on in liveliness , they are being recorded nevertheless in a direction that permit us to learn from them . "
