Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology study reveals memory redundancy

Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have discovered that biological memory is more redundant than previously understood. A study published in the journal Science in 2026 demonstrates that memories can survive even when more than 50% of the supporting neural connections are lost.

During experiments involving induced torpor in mice, researchers observed that over half of the hippocampal synapses temporarily disappeared. Despite this drastic reduction in brain activity and energy consumption, the mice maintained clear recall of spatial tasks learned prior to the lethargy.

The study reveals an architecture of collective anchors that allows the brain to reconstruct neural circuits upon returning to normal body temperature. Surviving connections cluster around multisynaptic buttons, acting as structural anchors. Notably, 82% of new dendritic spines reappear in the exact same positions to recompose the original network.