Memories and the ''I forgot '' (s)

To remember names, our favorite song's lyrics, our best friend's life story seems like a piece of cake, but when it comes to memorizing concepts, phone numbers, parking spots, it's no longer just a piece, It's the whole cake.

Why is that?

written by suhanee verma

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Out of most organisms, human beings have much-developed memories. These memories are the foundation of our lives, deciding how we understand and absorb our environment, for, without them, we would not be able to acquire, store, retain and later restore information. To understand the concept of memory, let's first furnish an apartment. The very first necessities would include purchasing kitchen appliances, sitting arrangements, and so on. In terms of memory, this constitutes the acquiring of information ( known as encoding). In simple terms, encoding is the process that links new information to old.

Firstly, we respond to stimuli and gather sensory information. For example, If you're at a furniture shop, the sensory information would include everything your sense organs picked up, like the different colors of items, their structures, their prices, and so on. Altogether, visiting the furniture shop would conclude an experience. This information, depending on relation to existing fragments, is grouped either into short-term or long-term memory. Chemicals, *Glutamate for one, and electrical impulses of the brain are integral to this process of encoding. In a way, the brain 'rewires' itself each time it needs to save a new experience.

Have you decided which furniture items to consider purchasing? There might be some items you liked but decided not to buy, or some items that you might come back and purchase later. There might even be some that you have already bought. The storage of memory works similarly. For a memory to go into storage, there are three stages:

1.Sensory memory

• This stage would hold the visual/auditory factors of the item you appreciated but did not buy, along with all the other sensory events in your environment. This memory would last only a couple of seconds. However, if the factors are valuable information, it is passed on to short-term memory. For example, you recognized a painting similar to one gifted to you by a loved one. The memory of it is valuable, so it passes onto the short-term stage of memory.

2.Short-term memory

• Also known as primary or active memory, short-term memory is a temporary stage that holds information passed from sensory memory. This memory is limited, for it can hold only up to 7-9 items at a time, for 20-30 seconds. For example, you made a note to purchase a bean bag next week. This mental note would remain for 20-30 seconds, after which you may forget until reminded.

3.Long-term memory

• The final stage of memory processing would contain all information that can be recalled with ease and accuracy. These memories are unlimited in contrast to sensory and short-term memories. For example, skills like driving, cycling, writing are long-term memories. However, there is a variation from person to person and memory to memory.

Just as there are several stores for different types of furniture, there are regions located in the brain for specific memories.

In what form are these memories stored?

• Memories are an intricate network of neural connections found in different regions of the brain. These connections vary depending on how a neuron behaves. A neuron may excite or inhibit certain chemicals called neurotransmitters (dopamine, GABA,...) that allow communication with other neurons. These neurons then form a network that further represents a memory.

The only thing left to do now is to remember. Mainly, there are two types of retrieval of memory: recall and recognition.

Recall is retrieving information stored as memories. For example, If someone asked for the address of your new apartment, you would retrieve it from your memories.

Recognition is when external stimuli cause you to remember a specific memory. For example, a song reminds you of a cherished moment.

As straightforward as this process sounds, several factors -how long it has been since you last retrieved a memory, or what new information has been acquired in the time being, and so on- affect it.

*GLUTAMATE - plays a prominent role in neural circuits involved with synaptic plasticity—the ability for strengthening or weakening of signaling between neurons over time to shape learning and memory.