Visual comparison of synaptic and systems consolidation, showing their timescales and mechanisms.
Learn MotionThe Cognitive Psychology of Memory: Why We Forget Studied Material but Remember Songs
Consolidation and Sleep
Synaptic vs. Systems Consolidation
2 / 6
This diagram contrasts synaptic and systems consolidation. Synaptic consolidation happens at the level of individual synapses and occurs within minutes to hours after learning. It involves strengthening of connections between neurons. Systems consolidation, on the other hand, takes place over weeks to years and involves the gradual reorganization of memory traces from the hippocampus to the neocortex. The key difference is the timescale and the level of the brain involved. Synaptic consolidation is fast and local, while systems consolidation is slow and global.
0:00 / 0:00