A recent study conducted by UCLA Health has demonstrated that repetitive practice has the potential to not only improve skills but also induce significant changes in the brain’s memory pathways. Published in the journal Nature and carried out in conjunction with Rockefeller University, the study aimed to investigate how the brain’s working memory, responsible for retaining and processing information, is enhanced through training. In order to assess this, mice were assigned the task of identifying and recalling a sequence of odors over a two-week period. Neural activity in the mice was monitored as they practiced the task using a unique microscope capable of imaging cellular activity in up to 73,000 neurons at once.
The study revealed a transformation in the working memory circuits located in the secondary motor cortex as the mice repeated the task over time. Initially, the memory representations were unstable as the mice learned the task. However, as they continued to practice, the memory patterns began to solidify or “crystalize,” according to corresponding author and UCLA Health neurologist Dr. Peyman Golshani. This process can be likened to each neuron in the brain playing a different note, with the melody becoming more refined and consistent as the animals practiced the task. These findings shed light on why performance tends to become more accurate and automatic with repetitive practice, offering valuable insights into learning and memory processes.
Dr. Golshani highlighted that these insights not only contribute to our understanding of learning and memory mechanisms but also have potential implications for addressing memory-related disorders. The study, conducted by Dr. Arash Bellafard, project scientist at UCLA, in close collaboration with Dr. Alipasha Vaziri’s group at Rockefeller University, opens new avenues for research into cognitive enhancement and neuroplasticity. By unraveling the neural changes associated with repetitive practice, researchers hope to develop new interventions for memory disorders and cognitive impairments in the future. The study underscores the importance of practice and repetition in consolidating memory and improving cognitive performance, offering promising prospects for enhancing memory function through targeted interventions.