Research Finally Explains The Absence Of Babyhood Memories

The answers have been found.

Babies and toddlers are constantly absorbing information from their surroundings, yet adults often cannot recall specific memories from their early years. A recent study suggests that memories from infancy may remain in the brain, but adults are simply unable to access them. This finding offers new insights into the phenomenon of “infantile amnesia,” where individuals do not retain detailed memories from infancy.

Researchers discovered that infants do form memories of particular events, even though they may not remember them as they grow older. This contrasts with the previous belief that babies’ memories do not last due to the way their memory systems function differently from those of older children and adults. Newborns typically rely on a type of memory called “statistical learning,” which helps them identify patterns in events, as opposed to “episodic learning,” a more advanced memory form that deals with specific experiences.

Statistical learning is essential for early development, including language, vision, and conceptual understanding. According to senior researcher Nick Turk-Browne, this kind of memory helps babies grasp the structure of the world around them. However, despite using statistical learning, babies’ brains are still capable of forming memories, though these memories are not accessible later in life.

In an experiment, researchers showed infants images of faces, objects, or scenes and observed their responses after the infants had seen the images again. MRI scans revealed that when babies looked at previously seen images longer, it indicated recognition, with activity in the hippocampus—a brain region responsible for long-term memory storage. The results showed that babies’ brains are processing memories similarly to adults, but these memories may not be retained long-term.

The study suggests two possibilities: that babies’ episodic memories may not be converted into lasting memories, causing them to fade, or that these memories are stored but remain inaccessible. Turk-Browne believes the latter explanation is more likely and is currently testing whether early memories might persist into adulthood, despite being difficult to access.