Where Do Human Memories Live? An Exploration Of The Science Of Memory

As you reflect upon your life, your experiences’ memories come to mind instantly. Your brain stores those memories in two ways, either episodic or semantic memory. So how do these two types of memory work? Which areas of the brain involve in each type? While scientists are still exploring these questions, here’s what we know about how our brains process and store our memories. Read on to learn more about where human memories live!

The parts of your brain

Studies have shown that memories stores in different parts of your brain and that some places are better for certain types of memories than others. This is because when you experience something in a certain way, it will encode into different parts of your brain depending on what you were doing at the time. Your brain has three main ways to encode information: Sensory Memory, Short Term Memory and Long Term Memory. There is also an additional type of memory known as Echoic Memory, which occurs after we hear someone say something before we can fully process it. Echoic Memories occur outside our conscious awareness and influence our decisions without realizing them.

How long are human memories stored?

Memories stores in many different brain parts, and these parts work together to create a long-term memory. The hippocampus is one region that stores memories for an hour or two before transferring them to other areas, such as the medial temporal lobe, which can store them for days or weeks. Memory storage changes over time; while it may be possible to remember things from decades ago, people generally find it difficult to recall what they did last week. It has said that our brains have three components: short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory. Short-term memories last a minute or less. Working memories lasts about 30 minutes without distractions (such as notepad) but much longer if distracted with constant input (such as watching TV). Long-term memories can last indefinitely when reinforced by activities like journaling, repeated thinking, review sessions etc.

What helps trigger a memory?

Sights, smells, tastes, sounds and touch can all trigger a powerful sense memory. For example, you might smell freshly baked bread and suddenly remember your mom’s kitchen when she would bake on Saturday mornings. Or you could hear someone call your name and then see an old friend’s face in your mind. These experiences call flashbulb memories because they often seem so vivid that it is as if a flashbulb went off in your head. Flashbulbs are also one way that scientists learn about memory. They study people who experienced something incredibly traumatic, like the attacks on 9/11 or Pearl Harbor, and then watch for how their brains react during this period afterwards.

How can you Improve your memory?

One technique you can use to improve your memory is to create a mental picture of something and then try to remember it by imagining that same picture in your mind. You can also try repeating phrases that help you memories information or organize them into categories, so they’re easier for you to remember. Also, many people swear by mnemonic devices such as acronyms and mnemonic songs.

If you have trouble remembering things because of an injury to your brain (for example), some doctors may prescribe medication like cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept and Namenda, which improve recall in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. And though the long-term effects of this type of treatment still not well understands, if you are considering taking these medications, talk to your doctor about whether these medications will be proper for you. For great tips on protecting and strengthening your memory, click here.

Can you Improve your attention span?

Although it’s unclear how much we can improve our attention span, there are a few things that may help:

1) Meditate to improve your focus and concentration

 2) Avoid distractions like social media or video games

3) Limit your intake of alcohol, caffeine, and sugar

4) Take breaks from sitting for long periods -memory is not located in any one specific place in the brain

5) Memories reconstructs each time you recall them because different regions of the brain process different types of information

6) Each person’s experiences lead to unique patterns of connections between neurons

Remember more with the help of technology.

When it comes to remembering things, nothing beats old-fashioned rote memorization. But new technology can make all the difference when it comes to remembering more. Online courses like Duolingo and Coursera offer various free or low-cost options for language education and learning about everything from history to computer programming to physics. Some websites like MOOC Course Finder help you find what you’re looking for based on your interests and goals. The number of available classes is continually growing as teachers, students, and entrepreneurs find ways to combine modern teaching methods with the convenience of online instruction.