This new study suggests that how and when specific copies of memories are activated can have a huge impact on how we experience those memories, and how they change over time.

“The challenge the brain faces with memory is quite impressive,” Professor Donato stated in the press release. “On one hand, it must remember what happened in the past, to help us make sense of the world we live in. On the other, it needs to adapt to changes happening all around us, and so must our memories, to help us make appropriate choices for our future.”

If these findings also apply to humans, it could help researchers develop treatments for specific memory-related disorders like PTSD or dementia by targeting different neuron groups.