The brain makes memories through processes that scientists are still learning about. These functions occur in a few areas of the brain.
The frontal lobe at the front of the brain is involved in mental functions that play a role in short-term and long-term memories. The hippocampus, located deeper in the brain area, is important to memory function and produces neurons in the memory process.
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Short-term memories are processed in the pre-frontal lobe of the brain, LiveScience explains. Research shows that a memory, such as a street address, is processed by the brain and may later turn into long-term memory contained in the hippocampus. The process collects other memories associated with the memory, such as events that happened at a street address.
The hippocampus depends on neurons that can form one memory into multiple memories for storage, say researchers at McGill University in Canada, according to LiveScience. So one simple memory, such as a party, could be combined with other memories from that event, including people, sounds, or smells.
Brain chemicals and proteins play a role in maintaining the connections in the brain for memories. Research on lab animals has shown that removing a chemical may prevent the formation of a memory or even eliminate memories that exist.
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The front part of the hippocampus deteriorates in cases of Alzheimer’s disease, robbing patients of memories.
People might remember events better when they occur close together for memory storage through the hippocampus. Researchers at Ohio State University found that the neurons in the hippocampus are able to connect more than one memory if the memories are closer in space and time. If the memories are separated further by space and time, the
memories of each event are not similar, Medical Daily reports.
Sleep also plays an important role in learning information and retaining memories. The brain uses this time to form new memories and
connect them with older memories, says The Huffington Post. It could be the reason that people choose to “sleep on” an idea or offer before making a decision, since sleeping helps consolidate and create memories for better information.
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