Memory: how and where memories are

generated

Every day we use and store millions of

memories in our brain. It is a
fundamental and sophisticated process
in our life that goes unnoticed until it
begins to fail. Understanding how these
memories are generated and what
memory is can help us keep this
process in top shape for longer.

Have you ever heard of memories and

memory?

Well, memories are images, concepts

or sensations stored in our memory.
They are temporarily stored in the
hippocampus and then shipped to the
prefrontal cortex of the brain.

And memory is the ability to store,

encode, and retrieve saved information.
These actions are carried out thanks to
the thousands of synaptic connections
that take place between our neurons.

There are different types of memory,

sensory, short-term, long-term, implicit
and explicit. Memory helps us adapt to
the environment and establishes our
identity. As Shakespeare said, "memory
is the sentinel of the brain."

HOW AND WHERE ARE THE MEMORIES

GENERATED?

When you learn (or "store" learning)

there is a physical change in the brain.
At this point, the distribution of
connections between neurons changes.
Therefore, to have a good memory it is
important that these drivers are in good
condition.

In the first place, if it has to do with a

procedure (remembering how to button
a button) it will finally be stored near
the occipital temporal crossroads
where the so-called praxicons (learned
motor acts) are located. In the second
place, if it has an emotional content, it
will be stored in the front or anterior
area of the brain.

To generate memories, we first need

"your front door" to be well preserved.
That door is called the hippocampus.
The hippocampus is responsible for
carrying the information found in short-
term memory to the cerebral cortex,
where memories are finally stored. The
hippocampus is one of the main
structures of the brain and is the
altered area in neurodegenerative
diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

How do forgetfulness arise?

When we stop remembering something

we already knew, it is not that this
information has disappeared from the
brain, we simply do not have access to
it. Not all forgetfulness is bad or
indicates illness. Sometimes they have
to do with perceptual and attention
problems, which cause poor
information processing.

TRAUMATIC

Forgetfulness may be the result of a

blow that causes trauma to the brain
that prevents the generation or access
to memories.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

They are the product of lack of

concentration due to emotional
situations such as depression, anxiety-
depressive syndrome, or insomnia.

PHYSIOLOGICAL

They are the product of a brain disease,

either neurodegenerative, such as
Alzheimer's disease, that damage
neural connections.

CONSUMPTION OF SUBSTANCES

Intake of certain drugs can also cause

memory gaps.

Some prevention strategies:

Healthy life habits,

regular aerobic exercise,

control of cardiovascular risk factors,

diet rich in omega 3,

cognitive stimulation,

generation of motivational reserve

through social interaction, avoiding
very frequent isolation