Cognitive Defragmentation Theory: A New Framework for Memory and Brain Reorganization

Cognitive Defragmentation Theory or CDT, proposes that the brain does not permanently discard information through synaptic pruning, but rather reorganizes and reprioritizes cognitive material across time. Inspired by personal observation, educational practice, and emerging neuroscience, CDT reframes forgetfulness, regression, and trauma responses as products of system overload and inaccessibility, not deletion. The theory introduces the concept of both micro (daily) and macro (developmental) defragmentation cycles, offering a model for how the brain shuffles memory and behavioral data for functional adaptation. Supported by recent neuroscience studies on memory retrieval via engram cells, CDT presents a new direction for interpreting neurodivergence, trauma recovery, and learning breakdowns and calls for a broader reevaluation of synaptic pruning as the dominant metaphor for cognitive development.