The neocortex is the largest and most complex part of the brain and has long been recognized as the ultimate storage site for memories. But how are traces of past events and experiences laid down there? Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research and the University of Freiburg Medical School have discovered that a little understood brain area, the zona incerta, has an unconventional way of communicating with the neocortex to rapidly control memory formation.
Memory is one of the most fundamental and fascinating functions of the brain, allowing us to learn from experience and remember our past. It is therefore a central element of our individual and collective human identity. Moreover, a mechanistic understanding of memory has implications reaching from treatment of memory and anxiety disorders, to artificial intelligence and efficient hard-and software design, and is therefore not only of great interest, but also of great importance.
In order to form memories, the brain needs to build associations between sensory signals that come “bottom-up” (or outside-in) from the environment, and internally-generated “top-down” signals that convey information about past experiences and current aims. These top-down (or inside-out) signals continue to be enigmatic and are therefore a major focus of current research.
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