Research Highlights : Old cells learn new tricks 01 June 2012 As
certain neurons within the hippocampus of the brain mature,
their contributions to memory and perception change The
philosopher George Santayana famously remarked that “Those who
cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The
hippocampus is essential to avoiding such mistakes, as this
brain structure helps process memories in a manner that can
usefully guide an organism’s behavior. The brain uses its
ability to recall past actions to identify differences between
highly similar yet distinct events, such as when you leave your
keys in a different place than usual—a process called ‘pattern
separation’. The hippocampus also performs the opposite
function—known as ‘pattern completion’—in which it uses isolated
pieces of information to reconstruct stored memories; looking at
an old photo, for example, will cause the hippocampus to summon
thoughts from the day the photo was taken. Neuroscientists have
generally believed that distinct segment