Researchers at New York University have discovered that memory formation can occur in cells outside of the brain, challenging the traditional understanding that only brain cells retain memories.

The study, led by Nikolay V. Kukushkin and published in Nature Communications, suggests that memory and learning occur at the cellular level, involving kidney and nerve cells as well.

By exposing these non-brain cells to different chemical signals in the lab, the scientists observed that they activated a 'memory gene' similar to one found in brain cells, demonstrating a fundamental property known as the massed-spaced effect.

This finding indicates that learning through spaced repetition might be inherent to all cells, not just those in the brain.

The research opens new avenues for studying memory formation and has potential implications for developing treatments for memory disorders and enhancing learning strategies.

It also suggests a broader perspective on how other body cells might remember past events, such as how the pancreas or cancer cells might retain information from past experiences or treatments.