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New Study Reveals Babies Form Lasting Memories Early

3/20/2025

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Summary

Story summary

New research uncovers that babies as young as 12 months can create lasting memories, defying the idea of infantile amnesia. fMRI scans reveal their hippocampus lights up during memory tasks, indicating these early memories may linger, albeit hidden. The study also links placental DNA to psychiatric disorders and shows brain shrinkage in epilepsy patients hampers word recall, emphasizing the brain's intricate role in memory.

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Story summary

New research uncovers that babies as young as 12 months can create lasting memories, defying the idea of infantile amnesia. fMRI scans reveal their hippocampus lights up during memory tasks, indicating these early memories may linger, albeit hidden. The study also links placental DNA to psychiatric disorders and shows brain shrinkage in epilepsy patients hampers word recall, emphasizing the brain's intricate role in memory.