Working memory: it’s how you make a mental shopping list without forgetting the milk, or memorize a number just long enough to write it down. But working memory is more than a prerequisite for a successful errand — the ability to briefly hold information in our minds lies at the heart of almost everything we do.
And, as a new study of forgetful mice shows, the brain processes behind this skill are more complex than commonly appreciated.
In a paper in Cell, the researchers present evidence that working memory isn’t neatly confined to one brain area, but requires the synchronous activity of at least two. The findings challenge long-held assumptions that working memory is the job of just one part of the brain and help scientists pinpoint its genetic and mechanistic basis.
“There were in fact hints from earlier research that multiple brain structures are somehow involved in working…
