The Brain's Memory Vault: Unveiling its Secrets
With memories, we get the ability to contemplate and modify experiences. This is a skill that distinguishes us humans from other animals. Parrots can learn to speak, but only through what we teach them. They can’t make their own sentences. Our memories shape our identity, guide our decisions, and enable us to learn and grow. While computers store information in precise locations like RAM or hard disks, human memories are stored in dynamic and decentralized neuron clusters. In this article, we will understand memory in depth and how we store and manipulate our memories. Sounds interesting, right? So, let’s get started.
Topics of Discussion
1. The Synaptic Dance Creates New Memories
We have already learned the role of neurons in the first section of “Inside the Brain”—that all the functions happening inside the brain are nothing more than just electrical signals firing between neurons. Now, something that is new to learn today is that electrical signals are not the only means of communication between the neurons. Chemical changes and hormonal changes also facilitate communication between neurons. Although our brain can only interpret electrical signals firing between neurons, chemical and hormonal changes become the agents that trigger the electrical signals.
When these neurons are firing, a part of our brain is observing all these neurons. It is called the Hippocampus. Brilliant Supply Chain will discuss this topic in detail in a separate article. But this is the organ that is responsible for storing and recalling memories. So, when we experience something new and the neurons are firing to interpret the information, simultaneously, some chemicals are produced. The hippocampus records all the information about chemicals and neural firing structures. It encodes all the information and stores it in the frontal lobe for later access.
2. How Do We Store and Recall Memories?
There are two conditions for recalling the memories.
- Deliberately recall the stored memories: When we deliberately recall the memories, the hippocampus is responsible for finding the same neuron-firing pattern as was created at the time of storing memory. For this, we often need a point of reference to help the hippocampus recall the memory. This point of reference allows the hippocampus to accurately fire the same neuron-firing patterns associated with memory. The memory is then recreated in our conscious mind by combining different images that link together. We often only remember a part of the memory, and the rest of the memory is pieced together with the help of perception, knowledge, and logic.
- Unconscious memories: There are some memories that are not deliberately recalled, but we still recall them occasionally. These memories are often recalled because of the chemical agents released by our brain. To understand this, let’s take an example. Suppose you are sitting in a restaurant, and you order a menu item. The food tastes remind you of your grandmother. Her food also tasted amazing, or even better. This creates a nostalgic feeling that produces memories of the past related to the grandmother.
Why did this happen? Simply because the food either has a similar fragrance or its taste triggers the brain to release some chemicals. These chemicals excite specific neuron clusters that were associated with her memories.
3. Remember More Information
The secret to remembering more information is hidden in our understanding of how the brain functions as we create new memories. There are only two conditions to remember more information. Reference points and chemicals are released in our brain. These two may seem like very difficult problems to solve. However, what if we gave these two problems new names?
Let’s call them repetition and emotions. When we repeat the information, the neurons that fired just once at the time of the creation of the memory get a chance to strengthen the bond with the neighboring neuron. As communicating just once does not produce great connections, this is true for human connections as well. We tend to share stronger bonds with the people with whom we communicate frequently. Repetition will be discussed in detail in the next article, where we discuss the different Memory Techniques for Enhancing the Creativity. You can find all the related topics on the BSC webpage, Memory and Creativity: Building Bridges to Breakthrough Ideas.
Similarly, when we feel emotions, our brain produces chemicals. These chemicals create even stronger memories when compared to repetition. events or experiences that have an emotional effect, like the time we graduated, watched a movie, or the first kiss, etc. We always remember this information; sometimes we even remember the feelings associated with that memory, just because it is an emotional memory.
4. Spatial Navigation
Spatial Navigation is a different topic all together, different from repetition and emotions, as discussed above. Yet we remember the directions and have spatial awareness. Hence, we are discussing it as a different topic today. An amazing fact highlighted from the initial research about spatial navigation is that it was developed out of necessity. The necessity to hunt and navigate back home after the hunt.
This is a gift of evolution that has been passed down to us through our DNA. As this trait is more useful for men (mostly involved with hunting), women have less affinity for spatial awareness. However, we at BSC also believe that spatial awareness can be improved with repetition. Hence, it is also an extension of repetition rather than emotion. We never feel any emotions towards spatial awareness. The route that we travel on regularly gives us more feedback in terms of remaining time and distance to our destination than the road that we rarely travel on (without Google Maps).
5. Conclusion
Understanding how we remember things shows just how amazing our brains are. When we experience something, like a fun day at the park or a scary movie, our brain doesn’t just file it away like a folder on a computer. Instead, it’s like our brain weaves it into the very fabric of who we are. The hippocampus, which is like our brain’s memory manager, helps turn our experiences into connections between brain cells. These connections can be brought back when we want to remember something, or they might pop up unexpectedly, triggered by something like a smell or a sound. Sometimes, we consciously try to remember things, like when we study for a test. Other times, memories just come to us, like when a song reminds us of a special moment. Our emotions play a big role too, sometimes bringing back memories without us even trying. By repeating things and connecting them to strong emotions, we can boost how well we remember them. Even the way we navigate spaces can help us understand how memory works.