Mouse hippocampus is prewired at birth, study finds

7 articles · Updated · Livescience.com · May 6

Published in Nature Communications, the study examined mouse CA3 tissue from shortly after birth, adolescence and adulthood, finding dense random connections that begin pruning soon after birth.
Researchers said early synapses were unexpectedly strong, making young neurons fire from a single input and producing broad, imprecise memory patterns rather than distinct, stable memories.
The findings challenge the tabula rasa view, suggest genetically programmed wiring later refined by experience, and may help explain infantile amnesia and less precise early-life learning.

Since infant brains aren't blank slates, what early experiences best sculpt this prewired network for future learning?

Our brains start over-connected then simplify. Could this 'less is more' model unlock the next generation of AI?

If brains are sculpted, not built, could we treat disorders by correcting the natural pruning process?