Memorization and Its Process in a Human's Brain

Memorization is very unique due to all the parts and functions in the brain, how people all have different levels of memorization and how old memories can impact new memories. Memorization was an ancient technique in Greece around 2,500 years ago were medieval scholars could remember their entire books and Cicero (Roman philosopher) used to memorize his speech. As time has progressed there is more information on how memorization works and what can impact it.

A big part of memorization is the parts of the brain which work together. One part inside the brain is the CREB gene, which was looked at in rats, where it was “needed to make long term memories.” “The CREB gene accomplishes this task by encoding a protein that regulates the expression of other genes needed for memory.” “CREB ability to regulate which cell form is given memory- memory allocation- led to the hypothesis of “allocate to link”.” When two memories are linked, which means they share the same neurons, it triggers the CREB gene to increase, where it remembers the second memory. In a different study, they focused on an MCH neuron (melanin-concentrating hormone) during sleep in mice. “When researchers tracked MCH signal in mice, they found the cell was suppressing the neurons in the hippocampus.” “Hippocampus is critical to memory formation, its involved in short memory (lasts a few seconds) & helps consolidate or recognize and stabilize memories into the cortex.” “Cortex is a long term memory (of events that happened anywhere from minutes to decades earlier) and strengthened here.” “The hippocampus also plays a role in forming autobiographical memories, together with the hippocampus, the parahippocampus, cortex, and medial entorhinal cortex help process spatial memories such as where events occur.” In both studies they mention about neurons, there are specific ways that neurons travel and send signals. First, “neurons receive signals via dendrites, branches that extend from the cell body.” Next, “Dendrites signals are organized in the cell body, if signal strong, neurons will fire, sending electrical activity down its axon.” Then, “when an electrical signal reaches the end of the axon, trigger releases of neurotransmitters into synapses between two neurons bind receptors at the tip of dendrites to the second neuron. Later, “if the first two neurons repeatedly activate the second neuron, connection strengthens; when neurotransmitters bind to the second neuron, calcium flows into the second cell. Calcium activates enzymes that increase the number of receptors on cells surface, means greater response next time; bonus other proteins trigger the production of scaffolding proteins, which may stabilize the synapse, solidifying two neuron connections.”

Each person has a different level of memorization because of the way our brains work. In 1953 Henry Molaison had his temporal lobe which included the hippocampus removed on both sides of the brain in order to treat his epilepsy. “Although the surgery reduced his seizures, he couldn’t form new memories. He remembered experiences and people he met before the operation, but not after.” There are others who have the opposite level of memorization, for example, Soloman Shereshevsky. Solomon could remember anything he devoted his mind to which made the psychologist interested in the 1920s. “His brain automatically conjured up images for words — blue evoked an image of a person waving a blue flag from a window; seven was a mustachioed man. Although the mental imagery overwhelmed Shereshevsky, it also helped him remember everything he devoted his attention to, such as written letters and lines of poetry in an unfamiliar language.” The part of the brain that is used for people who are “memory champion” is involved in spatial memory and navigation.

There is a difference in the way we remember things, the past plays a role in making new memories. Before technology, people actually had to remember things and “invested in their memories, in making it better.” Nowadays we have technology that reminds us of what to do and when to do it. We have become more dependent on technology, therefore, forget more easily. On the other hand, the traumatic experience is more vivid and are hard to forget. “When PTSD sufferer is reminded of their trauma, their body and mind enter high-stress mode,” which makes it feel real. The activity in the left side involved in rational thinking slows down and sort of deactivates. When deactivation happens it makes it harder for the person to realize that what they are hearing, seeing and feeling isn’t real. Another important part of the brain is waves. “Brain waves govern our thought process so they're quite important and can be damaged by trauma. Alpha waves which are triggered when we feel calm and relaxed are produced less.” If you want to improve memorization then you would have to use “elaborative encoding,” which is the main concept to remember. “It is also known as Baker/baker paradox: a person told to remember person named Baker is less likely to remember than someone told to remember a guy who is a baker; (the name baker means nothing, but the job baker rings a bell.)” In order to memorize new information you have to link it with old memories you have floating in the brain.

Memorization is a very unique and complex concept in which we know many things about the brain and how memorization works yet there is so much more to know. Memorization happens due to all the functions in the brain which varies in each person and can be strengthened.“If you want to live a memorable life, you have to be the kind of person who remembers to remember.”