Researchers from Skoltech have developed a mathematical model showing that memory functions most effectively in a seven-dimensional space.
Their findings suggest that both humans and artificial intelligence could learn and recall better when processing information through seven senses rather than just five.
A new understanding of memory
The researchers discovered a mathematical connection between memory, senses, and intelligence, indicating that seven may be the optimal number of senses.
The seven senses
The seven senses often mentioned in modern neuroscience and education (in addition to the classical five) are:
Also read: For the First Time, Alzheimer’s Symptoms Reversed in Lab Experiment
- The visual sense (sight) – detects light, colors, shapes, and movement.
- The auditory sense (hearing) – perceives sounds, tones, and vibrations.
- The olfactory sense (smell) – detects scent molecules in the air.
- The gustatory sense (taste) – identifies flavors such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
- The tactile sense (touch) – registers contact, pressure, temperature, and pain.
- The vestibular sense (balance) – controls orientation, movement, and equilibrium through the inner ear.
- Proprioception (body awareness) – provides a sense of the body’s position, movement, and muscle tension without relying on vision.
A mathematical look at memory
The new model examines how information is encoded and stored in the brain, aiming to uncover the fundamental mechanisms behind learning and recall.
Inspired by earlier research
The project builds on a long scientific tradition that began in the early 20th century, focusing on the brain’s basic memory units known as engrams.
What is an engram
An engram consists of a network of neurons that fire together and represent a specific concept or experience.
Memory as a sensory space
According to the model, each memory can be represented as an object in a multidimensional space, where each dimension corresponds to a sensory experience such as sight, smell, or taste.
Also read: Got something stuck in your eye? Here’s how to remove it safely
The banana example
The concept of a banana, for example, can be described through its appearance, smell, and taste, forming a five-dimensional object in the brain’s mental space.
Learning and forgetting
Engrams evolve over time depending on how often they are activated by sensory input, mirroring how we learn and forget through experience.
Seven as the magic number
When each concept is characterized by seven features instead of five or eight, the brain can store the highest number of distinct memories.
Possible future senses
The team speculates that future humans might evolve new senses, such as the ability to perceive magnetic fields or radiation.
Also read: How to maintain healthy bones with the right diet
Implications for artificial intelligence
The results could influence the design of robots and AI systems seeking to replicate humanlike learning and memory.
This article is based on information from ScienceDaily.com.
Also read: This is the healthiest type of flour, according to dietitians