The Role of Memory in Learning and Memory Retention.

Short-term motor memories, lasting less than a minute, are more important for relearning movements than long-term ones, according to a new study by Harvard researchers. The study challenges conventional thinking on the role of short and long-term memories in relearning motor skills, indicating the existence of mechanisms for regulating the learning rates for memories that are distinct from the memories themselves. Understanding short-term motor memories is crucial, as they could be just as vital as long-term ones for executing actions effectively.