Special lecture by Dr. Paul Frankland will explore the neuroscience of infantile amnesia

A Cognitive & Behavioural Neuroscience SPECIAL LECTURE exploring the neuroscience of infantile amnesia

Dr. Paul Frankland is a senior scientist in Neuroscience & Mental Health, Toronto SickKids Hospital and a Professor in the Dept Physiology, Psychology & Medical Science, University of Toronto

Bricker Academic Building, BA101
3:30-5:00 pm
Friday, November 1, 2024
Everyone is welcome to attend.

Abstract:

"Ontogeny of hippocampus-dependent memory"

Memories for events (i.e., episodic memories) formed in early development differ from those in adulthood in at least two regards. First, these memories tend to be rapidly forgotten (i.e., infantile amnesia). Second, they tend to be less precise than those formed in adulthood (i.e., infantile generalization). My talk will focus on the neurobiological mechanisms that account for these different operating characteristics of episodic memory in the developing brain. With respect to infantile amnesia, our studies have shown that maturation of hippocampal and cortical circuits is necessary for the formation of enduring event memories. With respect to infantile generalization, our studies reveal that maturation of inhibitory microcircuits in the hippocampus are necessary for the formation of adult-like, precise memories of events.