mind

NEWS

GETTY IMAGES

Our Brain Uses

a Not So Instant

Replay to Make

Decisions

Neural-processing centers repeat

recent sequences of events to lay

down new memories used for

abstract thought

THE HIPPOCAMPUS is a small curl

of brain, which nests beneath each

temple. It plays a crucial role in

memory formation, taking our

experiences and interactions and

setting them in proverbial stone

by creating new connections

among neurons.

A report published on June 27 in

Science reveals how the hippocam-

pus learns and hard-wires certain

experiences into memory. The

authors show that following a

particular behavior, the hippocampus

Computer artwork

of the brain

highlighting the

hippocampus (red).