For the first time, scientists have directly observed how memories begin to form in an awake baby’s brain. A study published in Science found that babies as young as 12 months old can form memories via the hippocampus, a part of the brain that stores memories in adults too. The researchers used a specially adapted brain scan for infants during a single session and showed them a series of images, which revealed that if a baby’s hippocampus was more active the first time they saw a particular image, they would look at the same image for longer when it reappeared.
The study suggests that episodic memory – the kind of memory that helps us remember specific events and context – begins to develop earlier than scientists previously believed. Until recently, it was widely believed that this type of memory didn’t begin to form until after a baby’s first birthday, typically around 18-24 months. However, this study found evidence of episodic memory formation in babies as young as two or three months old.
While the findings were strongest in infants aged 12-18 months, the researchers believe that these early memories may become inaccessible and difficult to recall as we grow older. One explanation is that babies’ brains undergo rapid neurogenesis – the fast-paced creation of new neurons in the brain. This rapid growth might disrupt or “write over” existing memories.
The study’s lead author notes that while it does not answer whether early life memories are completely erased, preliminary evidence from other research suggests that these memories can be recalled in early childhood but not later childhood. The researchers hope to continue studying this phenomenon and exploring the conditions under which early life memories may become more accessible.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/29/why-cant-we-remember-our-early-years-do-babies-make-memories-at-all