How Does Memory Work?

What It Is

Memory is made up of a series of processes, which register, encode, and store information for later use. A complex system of nerve cell connections in the brain, memory is the way that the brain stores and then recalls information. First categorizing the data as we collect it, different kinds of information are stored in different areas of the brain.

Types of Memory

Memory takes on several different forms. Episodic and semantic memory are two forms of declarative memory that deal with factual information. While learning takes place by actively stimulating memory, semantic memory is asociated with the conscious recall of general knowledge and facts. Episodic memory is related more to an individual's specific experiences and events. Another kind of memory, procedural memory, often referred to as the "know-how" memory, is associated with a person's skills, including motor skills and conditioned reflexes.

Short-term Versus Long-term Memory

Various parts of the brain work together to formulate and then retrieve memories. Short-term memory allows us to retain information for a short period of time in order to retrieve information quickly. On the other hand, long-term memory stores information that we don't need now or on a regular basis. Neural pathways must be created to encode the information to be recalled later. If you compare human memory to that of a computer, short-term memory would be comparable to RAM (Random Access Memory) and deals with information you are using at the moment. Long-term memory is akin to a computer hard drive, and is the brain's main memory bank. However, without working or short-memory, there would be no information coming in or traveling back across these neural pathways.

Formulating Memories

Long-term memory requires deeper encoding in the inner part of the brain. Short-term memory, also referred to as working memory, allows us to retain pieces of information temporarily in order to complete a task. Information then is transferred from the prefrontal lobe of the brain to the hippocampus, located in the inner fold of the temporal lobe. It is in this region of the brain where information is sorted and translated. As information is passed repeatedly through the hippocampus, we learn to make the associations, which form our memories. The prefrontal cortex of the brain plays a crucial role in making this information easily accessible.

What Research Suggests

The hippocampus appears to be an important component of the limbic system, or the emotional nervous system. It is in this region of the brain where new memories are built, as information retrieved at the moment is passed along to long-term memory.