Researchers in a U.S. university have uncovered a previously unknown pathway in the brain that enables us determine if a certain data is familiar or new - such as discerning whether an individual is a friend, an acquaintance or a total stranger. The brain study is set to be published in the Trends in Cognitive Science journal this September.

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Washington University in Saint Louis reported that researchers gathered numerous materials on brain imaging as proof that the said network exists.

One of the authors of the study Adrian Gilmore, explained that when a person sees something unfamiliar, the pathway is not very active. However, if it is a usual sight, the pathway becomes more active.

The researchers have named the newly discovered pathway the Parietal Memory Network (PMN). This network is located on the left side of a person's brain and involves three different parts namely, the dorsal angular gyrus, mid-cingulate cortex as well as the precuneus.

The paper is also based on another study on a brain pathway called the Default Mode Network. This particular pathway keeps the brain functioning even if it is in sleep or inactive mode. Initial investigations shows that the two pathways intersect with one another.

Scientists found that the PMN sticks to what it does always, without taking into account the complexity of the data it is operating on.

Other pathways in the brain will only become more active if an individual is trying to accomplish an unfamiliar task such as learning a new set vocabulary. But activities in these pathways remain the same if they are simply accomplishing a routine job like recognizing other people's faces.

The predictability of the PMN in terms of behavior may shed light on other brain processes such as recalling an event or object.

Researchers hope that their study will shed light on what happens inside the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's. Those suffering from this disease usually have difficulty remembering relatives and friends.

Gilmore added that understanding how PMN works may help people suffering from Alzheimer's regain their memory.

TagsAlzheimer's, Default Mode NEtwork, Parietal Memory Network, PMN, DMN, Washington University brain research, trends in cognitive science, neuro imaging