Infantile Amnesia: The Forgetting that Shapes our Identity

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Infantile amnesia, the adult loss of autobiographical and episodic-like memories from early childhood, has long been a fascinating mystery. How, as many studies suggest they do, can forgotten early-life memories influence an individual's life? Numerous investigations have concluded that this memory loss results from the immaturity of the infant hippocampus- or medial temporal lobe–dependent system, which lacks the ability to consolidate, store, or retrieve memories. Based on our studies, we proposed a novel view of infantile learning and memory: The infant hippocampus-dependent memory system actively consolidates long-lasting, latent childhood memories and mental schemas that facilitate relearning and new, congruent learning throughout life. Childhood experiences shape and mature the structure and abilities of the hippocampus during a critical period. This view provides a biological explanation for individual differences, personality trait development, and the impact of early interventions in preventing or reversing cognitive and developmental delays due to neglect, deprivation, and trauma.