Question

Please give an overview as to how memories are formed and stored in your brain. For this question, please incorporate the following information into your answer:

• Working Memory
• Encoding
• Consolidation

Please approach it from a cognitive and biological perspective (ie, the molecular mechanisms of memory formation and the different brain areas involved)

Answer 1

Memory is the ability of the brain to remember and recall the information.

Memory has two types - short term memory means which last for short time and long term memory means which can upto years.

The memory formation and storage includes some important steps -

1. Encoding

2. Consolidation

3. Storage

4. Recall / reconsolidation

The encoding refers to receiving the stimulus and interpreting it. It is the first stage of memory formation. At this stage, the memory is weak and fragile which can be easily be distorted due to any intervention caused at any level from molecular to behavioral.

2 stage of memory formation - Consolidation as the name suggest during this stage the memory start becoming more strong and difficult to distort. In Memory consolidation, the memory become intensified as well as stable. But during this stage the memory can still be distorted. This process of stabilising the memory and making it more strong is called WORKING MEMORY.

3stage Storage - Once a memory is consolidated, then it is stored in parts of brain. The stored memory does not responded to any interference. The memory is said to be fixed in that part of brain.

4 stage RECALL / RECONSLIDATION - the stored memory can be recalled or retrieved from a stimulus. After, the memory is recalled it becomes weak & vulnerable again, which means it can be interrupted. So, it again takes time to become stable and strengthen which is called RECONSOLIDATION.

The different parts of the brain which form & stores memory are - temporal lobe( it stores the spatial memory) , hippocampus & cerebellum.

The amygdala also helps in the formation of the memory.

The visual and auditory memory is stored in the visual and auditory cortex, respectively.