Analysing Memory

Recently, because of the Supreme Court nominee judge Kavanaugh’s sexual harassment story, some 35 years ago, there has been a lot of talk about memory and its relationships with the passing of time, and the reliability of memory.

I am not a memory specialist; but I know something about memory from my reading of books written by the renowned memory expert, Nobel laureate Dr Eric R. Kandel; because   both of my in-laws suffered for a long time and died from Alzheimer’s disease.

Memory is a complex mental function. Learning and memory are closely related. When we learn something either by reading, or by studying or experiencing a life event, we acquire knowledge. This knowledge must be kept, somewhere in our brain, as memory so that we can recall and use this knowledge whenever necessary.

According to Dr. Eric Kandel, there are two types of memories: “short-term memories” and ”long-term memories.” Short-term memories are formed just by increasing the strength of existing synaptic connections in our memory cells, with increasing the concentrations of signal molecules called neuropeptides. Short-term memories are kept in our memory cell called “memory bank”, for a short time. After they are recalled and used, they are mostly forgotten, as seen in studying for examinations or memories of  routine daily events in our life. If the knowledge of short-term memories is important to us and we repeatedly recall and use them, our brain converts and transfer them to long-term memory cells.

On the other hand, long-term memories are formed by different and definite anatomical changes in memory cells, by the growth of new nerve endings and, by new synaptic connections and by increased neuropeptide production. Long-term memories are, mostly and permanently, kept in our memory bank. Some of them never weaken like a childhood memory, and memory of a traumatic or emotional life events.  Memories and knowledge that are repeatedly recalled and used are not forgotten either.

Additionally, our brain classifies memories into two major memory systems: Explicit memories and Implicit memories. Explicit memories are memories of facts, figures and how to solve problems. They can be easily recalled and explained to other people. But implicit memories are memories of acquired skills like walking, driving a car or swimming. They can’t be recalled and explained to other people because, they have    become automatic reflexes and they require no thinking.

Neuroscience research tell us that if a memory is formed under the influence of intense emotions, like fear of being raped or  being killed, these memories immediately turn into, long-term memories and never to be forgotten, no mater how much time passes by. These are frequently remembered and re-lived by nightmares. This is, the mechanism behind what is called, “Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, PTSDs”.

It is unfortunate that lack of health literacy among non-medical people, cause the misinterpretation of memories and wrong decision making, about the past events.