memory how do you define it how are we even able to store experiences that
happen outside of our body somewhere inside our heads and how is it possible
that we can recall and relive those experiences again these questions have
intrigued thinkers and scientists throughout the ages because this innate
ability of remembering is what lets us define our existence how else would you
be able to describe your favorite food the name of your pet or the first time
you wrote a two-wheeler? a memory is made up of all the information taken in by our
senses the sights and sounds but we can touch and feel and all sorts of other
information is sent to the brain where large scale connections between
different brain structures work together to make sense of all the bits and pieces
of information one such important structure is called the hippocampus
located deep within the brain the hippocampus plays a crucial role in
storing long-term memories in a process called consolidation the hippocampus
receives information from many other areas of the brain and its job is to
integrate and organize that information by strengthening connections known as
between cells it does this by using proteins which are complex molecules
that serve a variety of functions some proteins hold things together some make
changes on existing structures and some make other kinds of new proteins it's
really the proteins that are the star of learning and memory our relationship
with the world around us is ultimately translated into the miniscule yet
extremely significant changes in their function and so the proteins in the
hippocampus continue putting together the information about an experience that
has been conveyed to by other brain regions it then stores or consolidates
that memory so that it can be brought back up later but the hippocampus is not
the only structure responsible for memory storage when an experience does
it make you feel all too great if it's sad or scary or embarrassing
another structure called the amygdala takes over the amygdala uses proteins
just like the hippocampus to do its work but it's a place where brain regions
director complaints - and by organizing integrating them the amygdala is able to
attach a negative emotional valence to a memory which turns out to be a super
important learning adaptation that's how we know to keep away from being in a
similar situation in the future although the amygdala is just about the size of
an almond and the hippocampus is not much larger both structures have an
irreplaceable role in our ability to learn and remember without them we never
get around to correcting any of our mistakes or more importantly we'd never
learn now even when we depend on our memory to make predictions for the
future it isn't the only determiner of decision-making in life there is always
so much going on so many pros and cons for the brain to weigh between and a
lesson from the past is just one of them just think if you only depended on memory,
you'd never take a second shot at anything after failing it the first time you
wouldn't be able to tie your shoes get over that first day of school trauma, do
a math calculation, or ride a bike, because the ability to forget or change
a memory just as important as it is to form line so not only is a brain an
immensely complex network of neurons buzzing with information that is
communicated between a trillion synapses it's able to integrate and store that
information physically by using proteins and in a way that allows room for change
later on and just when you thought you understood human behavior learn instead
that things are not that simple at all but you know what it's okay because when
it comes to the brain complexity is how we roll