Fearful memories acquired early in life may be temporarily forgotten, researchers suggested this week. Although the study is in mice, it raises the question of whether humans may suppress or recall memories at different times of life.
The researchers, from Cornell, Brown and New York University, conducted a series of experiments in early-, mid- and late-adolescent mice. As the mice entered adolescence, previously formed fearful memories were suppressed. But the mice could recall the fearful memory -- after being exposed to the context of the situation as a reminder -- once they entered adulthood.
