Memory is part of our personality and the foundation of our identity. We remember ourselves from around 2 years of age and the experiences that will be found in our memory define who we are.
For a human being, one of the worst experiences is precisely the loss of memory, because it involves a sense of loss of one's identity and personality. Memory is the part of our character whose troubles are not taboo. This means so much that it is easier for us to admit to memory problems than to a flaw in our character. It is also easier for us to create a kind of prosthesis for our memory so that there are no gaps in it. We can include among such prostheses any patterns that teach us how to use certain information.
Memory is thus inseparable from learning. Even the simplest organisms on the planet make use of learning and memory mechanisms. Learning is the creation of new, permanent engrams or memory traces. These are permanent changes in the nervous system, triggered by momentary stimulation and forming a representation of sensory experience. The ability to manipulate engrams, create them, store them and recall them effectively is what we call memory.
The learning process is thus the creation of new engrams and the transformation of existing ones under the influence of specific experiences. The creation of memory is a process that takes place in strictly defined phases and the first of these is memorisation, where the engrams created are short-lived. In order to become memorised, they have to pass to the next phase, namely they have to be placed in short-term memory, where engrams also do not last very long. However, under consolidation, they transform into an element of permanent memory, where they can be stored for years. In order for the engrams in question to be used, they need to be recalled, and transferred to working memory. At this stage, processes related to recognition, i.e. comparing the recalled engram with the engram that has just been created, are also triggered. This allows us to recognise the person we meet (to determine whether we know them or not).
photo: panthermedia
There are many different divisions of memory and theories explaining its essence. The current working theory on memory is the theory of synaptic plasticity, which assumes that synapses change during the learning process, leaving a trace in permanent memory. As we grow older, our memory becomes weaker as a result of reduced cerebral circulation, which impairs the function of nerve cells and their ability to reproduce. Hence, memory deficits begin to develop. It therefore becomes extremely important to train our memory so that it serves us for as long as possible.[1]
