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Study Finds Infants Encode Memories Earlier Than Previously Thought

Research using fMRI scans reveals that babies as young as 12 months can form episodic memories, challenging long-standing assumptions about infantile amnesia.

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Babies may start forming memories within the first few months of their lives.
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Overview

  • The study demonstrates that the hippocampus in infants begins encoding episodic memories around 12 months of age, earlier than previously believed.
  • Infantile amnesia, the inability to recall early-life memories, is now attributed to retrieval challenges rather than an inability to form memories.
  • Researchers observed stronger hippocampal activity in infants older than 12 months, indicating a developmental trajectory in memory formation.
  • The study utilized fMRI technology to track brain activity in 26 infants during memory tasks, highlighting methodological advancements in studying infant cognition.
  • Preliminary findings suggest that early memories may persist until preschool age but become inaccessible as retrieval mechanisms change with brain development.