Pausing to make memories
Monday, October 10, 2011 - 08:31
in Psychology & Sociology
Before the effects of training become hard-wired, the neural imprint of a newly learned motor skill is initially encoded in a temporary holding area for memory, after which the memory trace is transferred to a different region of the brain for long-term retention. The basis for this learning process has proven challenging to untangle, but new research from a group led by Soichi Nagao of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Wako, Japan, has revealed some of the key steps involved.