Temporal multiplexing of perception and memory codes in IT cortex. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38750353/)

These scientists wanted to understand how our brains remember familiar faces. They focused on a part of the brain called the inferotemporal cortex, which helps us recognize things we see. They studied three specific areas in this part of the brain that are important for recognizing faces.

They found that when we see a familiar face, our brain cells in two of these areas change the way they work compared to when we see an unfamiliar face. It's like a special code that helps us remember faces we know well. This code is different from how our brain normally processes new information.

They also discovered that the way our brain cells change to remember faces is unique to these specific areas in the brain. Even if one area is turned off, the other areas can still remember familiar faces in the same special way.

In simple terms, these scientists figured out how our brains store memories of familiar faces in a special part of the brain, using a different code than when we first see those faces. This helps us recognize and remember people we know, even if we haven't seen them in a long time.

She L., Benna MK., Shi Y., Fusi S., Tsao DY. Temporal multiplexing of perception and memory codes in IT cortex. Nature. 2024 May;629(8013):861-868. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07349-5. Epub 2024 May 15.