Do memories occupy a physical space in the brain?
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Yes and no. Memory science still has a long way to go, but basically, memories are pathways. I am no expert on the subject, but here is how I understand it:
Your brain is made up of neurons. Every experience you have is an electrical signal passing through some neurons. When you see a dog, specific neurons light up. When you see a car, specific neurons light up. When you see a dog in a car, signals are shared between your dog neurons and your car neurons. If you see a dog in a car every day, the signals being passed between those neurons will form a bridge (called a dendrite) or strengthen an already existing one. That makes it easier for signals to pass between those neurons in the future. More connections means it is easier for a chain of neurons to light up when there may not be a logical reasoning for them to. You may see a blue bike and some electricity from your blue neurons will make its way to your car neurons because you have a blue car so the connection between those two is stronger in your brain. Then, because your car neurons are lighting up, some electricity manages to reach your dog neurons. Now, you saw a blue bike and all of the sudden, you remember the dog in your car.
Memories can also form if there is a lot of different pathways. So, if the dog puked in your car on the way to the park, now you have dog neurons, car neurons, blue neurons, neurons for the smell of puke, neurons for the sight of puke, disgust neurons in reaction to the smell/sight of puke, emotion neurons from getting upset about the puke, neurons about the park, etc. All these things are connected and so each time one of those neurons light up, there is a chance it will activate one or more of the other neurons connected to it. These chance activations also strengthen the connection which helps maintain the memory.
Then, years later after your dog has passed away and someone says “Tell me a memory you have of your dog”, the word “dog” can activate that whole cluster of neurons associated with the event. That activation is you remembering.
I hope that makes sense. Also, like I said, I’m not an expert so if someone on here knows better than me, please share.
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