Our Brain Has Its Own Backup System
Recent research by Flavio Donato and his team at the University of Basel has revealed that the human brain creates multiple copies of each memory, akin to computer backups. This process occurs in the hippocampus, the area responsible for learning from experiences. Each memory is stored in at least three distinct groups of neurons formed at different developmental stages.
The study indicates that these memory copies are retained for varying durations, with some potentially fading over time. Interestingly, later-formed neurons initially retain memories strongly but lose this ability as time passes, while the most recent neurons can easily modify and rewrite memories.
This discovery sheds light on the brain's remarkable ability to balance remembering past experiences and adapting to new information, highlighting the ongoing challenges and complexities in neuroscience research.