Human Brain and Memory Process
Memory functions in the brain in a very complicated fashion. To date, scientists are unable to design computers that can compete with the human brain. But, it is promising in the next two or three decades that scientists may be able to devise advanced computers with the help of nanotechnology, cybernetics and biotech resources.
Scientists and researchers have put their wise efforts to discover and uncover all the elements of the human memory system in order to get a better understanding of its encoding and retrieving processes. These understandings are crucially important for improving the quality of an individual's memory and recollection process.
Human Brain Structure and Memory System
Our thought, senses, memory and actions all influence distinct sets of nerve cells and chemicals within our brain. The hippocampus, the amygdale and close areas of temporal lobe are associated to the cortex with the help of complex nerve cells. This actually forms the fundamental structure of our memory system.
When a nerve cell in the brain gets activated, a low-charged electrical potential is sent to the axon. This helps in releasing brain chemicals or neurotransmitters, which attain across the synaptic gaps between nerve cells and bolt onto the corresponding receptors. The nerve cells that obtain the brain chemicals then send the signal along to other relevant nerve cells. This happens like a relay race.
When the same signals are received repeatedly, the synaptic changes occur more efficiently contributing to the physical changes among synaptic connections. This is how the human brain stores memory on a long term basis. Scientists and researchers assume that the changes in particular synaptic patterns in folds and ridges of human brain contribute to memory encoding for lengthy time span. In fact, convoying electrochemical associations constituted between different cells in human brain help storing memory including thoughts, skills, knowledge and experiences.
Research on Human Brain and Memory
There are debates on the distribution of memory over the human brain. While some scientists assume that human brain constitutes memory in a particular region within the brain structure, some others claim that human brain does not localize memory within a particular territory, that is, memory is all over distributed through out the brain structure.
Scientists claim that the cell functions corresponding to learning and memory process are indistinguishable at the biological level. In fact, proof has been already established in the support of the strong correlation between learning process and memory system. It is also assumed that to execute the learning process, the human brain employs multiple memory systems, each of which is engaged to encode different sorts of memory functions.
