• Question: Is the memory part of our brain like as hard drive? if not, how do we store the memories, and then be able to access them at a later date?

    Asked by jaackbrownn to MarkF, Mark, Michael, Panos, Sarah on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Mark Fogg

      Mark Fogg answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      That Jaackbrownn is a hard one to answer accurately without writing an essay.

      A hard drive stores information precisely as a series of ones and zeros on a magnetic disk. A human brain stores information rather more vaguely, as connections between brain cells called neurons. The stronger the memory, the stronger the connections and the longer they last. Human memory is very imprecise, a bit fuzzy round the edges. Hard drives are the opposite, very precise and accurate. Human memories fade with lack of use, the connections break down over time. The information on hard drives stays there until someone takes a hammer to it or a very strong magnet!

    • Photo: Mark Travis

      Mark Travis answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      I guess the brain-hard drive analogy is a pretty good one, although I am no big expert on this…… You store things away, then certain cues can cause you to recall that info.

    • Photo: Panos Soultanas

      Panos Soultanas answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Hi Jack,

      I think this is a good analogy. Memory is stored in the synapses (connections) between neurones (nerve cells) in the brain. They can be re-called in the form of electriciy that stimulates the neurones and releases the information that is stored there. When these synapses get damaged by an accident or disease then the information is lost and we experience what we call memory loss. So overall your analogy with the hard drive is a good one..!

      🙂

    • Photo: Sarah Burl

      Sarah Burl answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      this is the million dollar question. If we could remember things better we would all be more intelligent. Memories are created by the communication between neurons in the brain. There are certain chemicals that help the communication. Genetics must also play a part, but we can train our brains to remember better. Visual clues can help form memories better or repetition. There is short term memory and long term memory. Often old people who have diseases that affect memory usually find they affect the short term memory first, although I am not sure why. There has been a market for ‘smart’drugs that are supposed to make ones memory better by inducing more of a certain chemical that make the communication better. I am not sure if these are safe though.

    • Photo: Michael Loughlin

      Michael Loughlin answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Oh I have no idea about memories except the idea of learned physical emories..how once we learn how to ride, kick, serve in tennis. That movement of muscles in conjunction means a certain pathy a neurons are fired. if done enough times this pathway becomes “easier” for impules to pass down so we can repeat the action with more ease
      I would imgaine memory is like a hard drive with an auto archive setting..older memories get harder to access unless accessed often

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