New research shows the brain uses molecular “timers” to strengthen important memories and let others fade. These timed programs decide how long memories last, offering fresh insight into how the brain forms and preserves them.
Scientists have uncovered why some memories stay with us for decades while others fade within days. New research from Rockefeller University shows that long-lasting memories are built through a layered system of molecular “timers” spread across different parts of the brain. These timers gradually strengthen important experiences while letting unimportant ones drift away.
A Stepwise System That Decides What We Remember
The study reveals that memories are not formed through a simple on/off switch. Instead, they pass through a series of checkpoints that determine how long they should last. Using a virtual reality learning setup in mice, researchers observed how repeating specific experiences made some memories stick, while others vanished. The brain evaluated each experience and activated different molecular programs depending on its importance.
This process involves coordinated activity across the thalamus, cortex, and a set of gene regulators that work on different timescales. Some activate quickly but fade fast, helping the brain discard everyday information. Others turn on slowly and stabilize meaningful memories.
Molecules That Keep Memories Alive
To uncover which molecules influence memory longevity, the team applied CRISPR-based tools to switch genes on and off in the thalamus and cortex. They discovered three key regulators Camta1, Tcf4, and Ash1l that don’t create memories but are essential for preserving them.
Camta1 helps protect early memories as they exit the hippocampus. Tcf4 strengthens structural connections between brain regions, and Ash1l remodels chromatin to reinforce long-term stability. Removing any of these molecules weakens communication between the thalamus and cortex, causing memories to degrade.
A New Framework for Understanding Memory
The findings challenge the long-held belief that long-term memories are permanent once stored. Instead, memories continue to evolve, guided by biological timers that weigh their relevance. Interestingly, one of these molecules Ash1l belongs to a family that also controls cellular “memory” in immunity and development, suggesting a shared biological strategy. The study was published in the journal Nature.
This research could eventually help scientists understand memory-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. By mapping the brain’s backup systems for preserving memories, researchers hope to find ways to strengthen or reroute memory pathways when certain regions fail.