Seven Senses May Optimize Memory: Skoltech Study Sparks debate on how humans could learn and think
A new mathematical model suggests our brains may be optimized for seven senses rather than five, with memory capacity peaking when concepts are described by seven features. The study, conducted by researchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, points to a robust finding: a seven-dimensional conceptual space yields the greatest number of distinct memories in a steady state. While the work is theoretical and focused on memory engrams—the brain’s basic units of memory modeled as sparse, distributed networks—the idea has wide-ranging implications for artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and how we think about learning in humans. The team emphasizes that their conclusions are speculative when applied to real human senses, yet they stress that the mathematical insight could guide future research in robotics, AI design, and educational tools that harness multi-sensory information.