How the Brain Works The Facts Visually Explained by DK (z-lib.org)

MEMORY, LEARNING, AND THINKING

Storing Memories 138 139

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AUDITORY

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If you learn something just once, over time that memory

trace will fade as the connections weaken. The more times

you practice or revise something, the stronger those

connections between neurons become and the more likely

you are to remember it in the future.

Strength of memory trace

Time

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

HIPPOCAMPAL

INJURY CAN MAKE

FORMING NEW

LONG -TERM

MEMORIES

IMPOSSIBLE

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Memory encoded by hippocampus

Experiences are registered by the

hippocampus, and some of them—those that are

destined to become memories—are encoded

there. Long-term potentiation alters connections

between neurons in the hippocampus to create

a memory. This area is vital for new memories.

1

Memory stored in cortex

Networks across the cortex

store memories for things that

happened less recently. Different

types of memories might be stored

in various combinations of regions.

2

Remember

When you wake up, the memory

of what you learned is stored more

securely. It has also been linked to other

facts, making it easier to recall, and you

may find that you

understand the

underlying

concepts better.

3

KEY

Rest

Study

A certain combination of

neurons fires repeatedly

to consolidate memory

Synapses strengthen,

storing memory as

a trace

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US_138-139_Storing_Memories.indd 139 20/09/2019 12:37