How memory is stored in brain?

1 Answer
Mar 15, 2018

It isn't stored. Fat is stored in fat cells, but memory isn't really stored at all. I'll kind of try to explain below.

Explanation:

This is best explained with a TED talk or video on youtube, since it is hard to explain/visualize. I'll use a simple example.

Neurons are a lot like trees - at one end they have this extensive network of branches, which is much like dendrites.
At the other end they have roots, which are like axon terminal.

An experience triggers an electrical signal that travels from one neuron to another neuron. In order for that experience to be "remembered", the neuron interactions that allowed that electrical signal to "travel" has to be held in place. This is done by protein synthesis of scaffolding proteins.

This is like one branch from one tree bumping into another branch from another tree. This is the electric signal that passes from neuron to neuron that happens with stimulation. Those branches have to be glued together in order for that process to happen again - they have to be glued together in order for that experience to be "remembered".

So memory is more like circuitry being layed down on a circuit board. If that circuitry is glued in place, then you'll "remember" the next time that stimulus elicits a response. If the circuit board gets jumbled up, you won't remember.

Memory is tied to protein synthesis (like the glue that holds the circuitry together).