Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Significance</jats:title>
<jats:p>The synaptic trace theory of memory posits that the brain retains information through learning-induced changes in synaptic connections. Once consolidated, a memory is embodied through its fixed trace. For the case of motor memories, e.g., learning how to ride a bicycle, we propose a slight variation on this theme. Because there are so many different ways for the motor system to accomplish the same task goal, motor memories are defined not by fixed patterns of synaptic connections, but rather by nonstationary patterns that fluctuate coherently while still generating the same fixed input–output mapping. This mechanism provides a noisy sensorimotor system with enough flexibility so that motor learning can occur rapidly with respect to new memories without overwriting older memories.</jats:p>