How useful a memory is for future situations determines where it resides in the brain, according to a new theory proposed by researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus and collaborators at UCL.
  • The new theory offers a new way of understanding the consolidation of systems.
  • According to the theory, consolidation occurs only if memories improve generalization.
  • Generalizations are built on the basis of reliable and predictable memory components.
  • The amount of memory that can be generalized determines whether it consolidates or remains in the hippocampus.
  • The researchers used neural networks to study the degree of memory consolidation.
  • The next step is to test the theory with experiments.
  • Uncovering the workings of memory can help better understand cognitive functions and benefit health and artificial intelligence.