The Brain, Store house of Memory Part V

Complicated switching mechanisms of Brain:

Research has found that a central role in long term memory is played by an area called the Hippocampus, which is located in the temporal lobe. All new information must pass through the hippocampus, and it retains these impressions for up to several weeks before passing them on to areas in the cortex were they permanently recorded. In these cortical areas, memories are connected with specific emotions.

The hippocampus is closely linked to the brain limbic system one of the keys to our emotion world. The front temporal lobe contains areas that are responsible for short term memory. The so called reticular formation, situated between the brain and the spinal cord, contributes to wakefulness and attention, which are vital for both active and passive learning, as well as the active recall of memories. The cerebellum situated in the rear cranial cavity, harbors those memories that are necessary for conditioned or acquired reflexes. It also plays a role in maintaining the body’s equilibrium.

At present, we posses only fragmentary knowledge about how the mechanisms of memory retention and recall actually work. It is clear that our nerve cells name thousands of connection which are known as synapses. These are specifically re formed or re activated when mental processes occur. Together with the arrangement of special groups of nerve cells, the synapses create a neuron network for storing information. But the actual formation of memories is still poorly understood, and remains a subject for future study.