Study Shows One-Year-Olds Can Encode Memories, Raising Questions About Infantile Amnesia

New research challenges the belief that memory encoding begins after age three, highlighting the role of the hippocampus in early memory formation.

Researchers at Yale University observed hippocampal activity in children as young as one year old during memory encoding tasks, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
The study, involving 26 children aged 4 to 25 months, found memory encoding capacity in children older than one, contradicting the idea that infantile amnesia is caused by an underdeveloped hippocampus.
Experts suggest early memories may persist in implicit forms, influencing behavior and experiences throughout life, even if not consciously retrievable.
The findings emphasize the importance of shielding young children from trauma, as their brains can encode such experiences with long-term effects.
While the study's small sample size limits its generalizability, it opens new avenues for understanding memory development and the ethical considerations of early childhood experiences.