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.

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.

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