2006-07-30 05:23:35 · 15 answers · asked by ♀guardian of angels♀ 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Long term potentiation (LTP). If I had a whole month to give a lecture about this then maybe I could explain it well... but since I don't I'll just give you the shortest version I can and then pass you onto Wikipedia.
As we learn, our neural pathways sort of get enhanced, strengthened... that's why practice makes perfect. Some memories, like emotional ones exist in specific regions of our brains that get activated when we experience these types of experiences. Those pathways get strengthened through the experience and when that happens and we get REM sleep (which may play an important role in learning and memory) an actual physical sign of strengthening appears between the synapses of the neurons responsible for those experiences. This process of reinforcing neural pathways at the synapses is Long Term Potentiation. This is how we remember things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_potentiation
2006-07-30 06:53:38 · answer #1 · answered by Stephanie S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The information is stored symbolically. Each portion of the brain has a specific type of information that it is best at handling and processing, and each tiny segment of each memory can be accessed by association.
A sort of "master controller" for memories and associations is in the amygdala and hippocampus areas, and it stores a type of template with connections to the original data in each sensory center.
That is why a smell or a certain sound can trigger memories - they access the "template" in the hippocampus and that calls in all the connections and replays the set of symbols that you have stored.
2006-07-30 05:33:20 · answer #2 · answered by aichip_mark2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Science has determined that all information is not stored in the cranium. They found what they call cellular memory. This means all cells of the body store information. We home in on the brain because it houses the highest concentration of cells.
2006-07-30 05:32:00 · answer #3 · answered by chrisbrown_222 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How many trillions of brain cells does an average human have?
If many of them are capable of keeping a small amount of information,
that makes for a pretty big pile of knowledge.
Scientists still don't understand how a concept can be mapped into
things as simple as can be "remembered" by a series of brain cells
but they get closer every day.
2006-07-30 05:29:16 · answer #4 · answered by Elana 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
humans only use about 9% of there brain, Enstien used11% of his
2006-07-30 05:28:15 · answer #5 · answered by firefly_pl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not all brains do or do so equally mind you
2006-07-30 08:57:03 · answer #6 · answered by Kind_light 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's really just a sponge (it's need wringing out from time to time too)
2006-07-30 05:26:55 · answer #7 · answered by mJc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And remember we only use very little of our brains too! Well, at least I do. :oP
2006-07-30 05:26:51 · answer #8 · answered by Flyleaf 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I used to know the answer to this, but I forgot it.
2006-07-30 05:30:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's amazing isn't it?
So much more room inside than you'll ever need
2006-07-30 05:26:27 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋