New findings from Rockefeller University are rewriting the rules of memory. Researchers used virtual reality and CRISPR in mice to map the brain's decision-making process for long-term retention.

The study identifies the thalamus as a critical hub that initiates programs—a sequence of molecular timers like Camta1 and Tcf4—that stabilize and reinforce significant experiences. Understanding this stepwise stabilization process could lead to new therapies for treating conditions like Alzheimer's.