Memory, Memory, Memory, Say it seven times and you will remember

Memory is an odd thing. Something that we have yet to nail down as to what its true structure is, and how it associates with our perceptions of reality and how its integral nature contributes to our everyday lives.

I would like to discuss the neuroscience behind it all, though I myself am not completely versed in all the lingo and jargon. I would also like for anyone to throw in a movie, or book that dealt with memory, was a distinct part ot the plot. Memento comes to mind. Go with that.

hey,

Since my memory is going, I have looked into this stuff. I am DEFINITELY not an expert, but the little I know follows...

The hippocampus is responsible for both processing incoming information AND, more importantly, storing repetitive actions - ever drive home from somewhere and you get home and surprised yourself that you're home? These repetitive actions are stored there, which makes sense in that the brain can devote cognitive issues while doing the repetitive things w/o involving cognitive thought.

Memories are "weight-dependent". That is, if you experience an event or absorb a fact once, it may not stick b/z the brain biochemically assigns a weight to that item. If you experience an event that may have occurred only once, but that touched you (for example) emotionally in some way, that memory may be afforded more weight, since you were able to associate it w/ another event or "meme".

The system is more or less biofeedback, in the sense that may have likely forgotten your high-school sweetheart's phone # (I haven't - I miss her!) since you simply don't use it anymore, hence the biochemical weight (in terms of connections made via neurotransmitter pathways) is reduced.

Memory storage is extraordinarily decentralized. Look at fMRI research done lately and you'll see what I mean. The brain continuously befuddles scientists, since the areas one would term "associated" are far away from one another. For example - your "mind's eye" type visual conceptualization is at the upper back of your skull (right where most bald spots are), far from the visual cortex. Two completely separate areas (Broca's area and Wernike's area) are used for language processing and occur on BOTH sides of the corpus callosum (the conduit b/t the 2 halves of the brain). Yet when one looks at fMRIs for where verbs, adjectives, nouns, etc. are stored all over the freakin' place.

Recently, the G_d part of the brain (associated w/ faith, "divine visions", etc.) has been found and very specifically localized about 2 inches behind your forehead, sitting on top of something called the sella turcica or the turkish saddle - a shelf where, if you look a side image of the brain, the large front part sits upon.

Such a curious set of mysteries, you bring up a neat topic!

To add to the very good post by Solidspin.
Timebinding.
This is relating your memories to some specific time in the past.
I am very bad at this.

So, I try to take notes and use a lot of chemicals.

Icecycle,

What chemicals do you use / are referring to? All the ones I'm familiar with make the event versus specific time correlation kinda hazy...

In regards to the topic at hand, it's not the location within the brain or the time at which the event occurred that gets me. If the brain is nothing more than an organ that changes electrical stimuli into chemical combinations (for immediate "thought" or memory), how complex must those chemical combinations be?

I think it goes alot deeper than just insinuating (NOTE: nobody but myself has) a certain combination of chemicals will make a memory; sort of like following a cooking recipe will make a specific meal... I can't even begin to fathom the complexity... there appears an additional "variable" that has not been (or cannot be) considered (except the mention by solidspin regarding the G_d portion of the brain), unless you'd like to get into another discussion, but there are already a few threads regarding "omnipotent beings" within the forum.

Good topic, Element!

MV

Acetyl L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid in combination.
N-Acetyl-Tyrosine (this can cause headaches, mood swings, insanity;
should be used with caution.)
Ginkgo Bioba.

A lot of alcohol and coffee.

Not being a medical doctor, I cannot recommend any of these, although, probably the alcohol is fairly safe.
At least it gets you drunk.

what about "barbarella"...the angel has no memeory!!

memory only can occur in connection with conciousness.and can be distorted or rearranged by unconciousness.hehe!

I thought about something I was going to add to reply, but now I have forgotten.....

Oh it is hell to get old.

For memory enhancement, I think in a few years the popular press will be recommending to Aricept everyone. Doctors prescribe it now for Alzheimers, but it has also been shown to enhance the effectiveness of memory in non-symptomatic populations. For example, for airline pilots given training on a flight simulator, the Aricept-treated group had significantly better peformance.

Of course, anyone involved in trying to enhance their memory would be best off first making sure they (1) get enough sleep, (2) get enough omega-3/lecithin, (3) get enough exercise.... IMHO :-)

and what about "butterfly effect","vanilla sky","total recall","the sixth day","gothica","eternal sunshine of the spotless mind","forgotten",etc.

I know, but I was simply starting off with just one movie. Don't forget 50 First Dates

hey what about Dejavous, or however u spell that? What's that all about? Like, you kinda remember something that happened exactly as it is now, sorta, u think. And if it's a long enough dejavous, you can predict what is happening next sorta it seems like. Like you're thinking it as it happens. Wdf lol?

You: Eh dude did you try that coffee?
Guy: Oh ya man it was....
You*thinking*: omfg dejavou...
You*thinking what guy will say almost same time he says it*: Hilariously bad
Guy: Hilariously bad
You: Dude dejavou! Remember? And then...
*old man in a yellow sweatshirt walks by*
You: Holy crap! Dude remember? I even told you last time to remember just in case it happened again! ... Didn't I? Whoa dude


that's basically what happens to me lol

The dejavous thingy is like we had a past life that was exactly like the one we have now. And our "soul" "remembers" it and modulates that memory to our brain.

To help me remember stuff I find it helpful to say it out loud and write it down. Even if I lose the paper I wrote it on, I have heard it, said it, written it and seen it. It has forged at least 4 different path ways in my brain. Hopefully one of them will stick.

My theory on Deja Vu is that sometimes it may take one part of the brain a split second longer to process information than it takes another part. So the two pathways are presented to the consciousness out of sync. When the later impulse arrives the brain says, "Whoa - I've done this before."