A team of researchers, led by Dr. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga from the Research Institute of Hospital del Mar, has made a significant discovery in the field of neuroscience, shedding new light on how memories are generated in the human brain. In a recent study published in the journal Cell Reports, the group has demonstrated, for the first time, how neurons organize themselves to create memories and narratives, which could be the key to understanding the foundations of human intelligence.
Contrary to previous ideas about memory encoding, the findings indicate that neurons do not store information based on the context in which events were experienced. Instead, they generate individual records for each concept learned. This ability to create abstract connections suggests a distinctive trait of human intelligence compared to other species, allowing us to make more complex associations.
The research was conducted using data from nine patients with refractory epilepsy in Argentina and the United Kingdom, who had electrodes implanted to record neuronal activity. During the study, patients were asked to listen to two different stories about the same person in various contexts. The results revealed that neurons responded similarly regardless of the context they were in, challenging the previous notion that the environment influences memory encoding.
Dr. Quian Quiroga pointed out that this abstraction in memory formation allows humans to think about concepts without the need to relate them to specific circumstances. This discovery connects the ability to decontextualize memories with the ability to generate inferences and complex associations, traits that are essential for creativity and critical thinking.
The research not only deepens our understanding of neurobiological functioning, but also opens the door to future investigations into intelligence and memory in humans, thus expanding our knowledge of our cognitive abilities.
via: MiMub in Spanish
