Have you ever wondered why you can recall specific details about certain events but can’t remember what you ate for lunch? You’re not alone, and the answer isn’t straight forward, nor is it conclusive.

Here’s what we know so far, but there is a ton of research in the scientific pipelines, so keep checking back for updates.

Memories are all about connections

Your brain is filled with billions of neurons, a type of cell that transmits nerve impulses. When we learn something new, like a person’s name, our brain forms connections between neurons. These are called synapses. When we experience something, the neurons fire and form new connections, or they make existing connections stronger.

For instance, the more you practice a golf swing, the stronger the connections will be, helping you to store that long-term memory. Meeting someone once won’t trigger the same reaction, so the connection will be weaker and thus the memory more difficult to remember.

Different types of memories are stored in different parts of the brain, but scientists believe that memories are stored in these neural connections.

What do we know about how our memories are stored?

 A study by researchers at CalTec set out to better understand how our brain stores memories and why certain injuries and diseases such as Alzheimer's have such a profound impact on memory.

The researchers of this study only examined the hippocampus, a part of the brain in charge of storing our memories. Their goal was to learn why some memories are strong while others are easily forgotten. They found that memories that last for long periods of time were programmed by large groups of neurons. Memories that are quickly lost, on the other hand, are encoded by small groups of neurons.

Confused yet? Again, you’re not alone, this is confusing stuff!

What is a hippocampus?

Good question and no, it doesn’t have anything to do with the African mammal that likely pops to mind when you hear this strange word. A hippocampus is found inside your brain and it has an extremely important job.

Despite its small size, this tiny structure is responsible for teaching spatial awareness and committing short-term memories into long-term memories, among other jobs.  

The hippocampus is part of your limbic system – the brain’s nerves and networks responsible for motivating you, regulating your emotions, controlling your behavior and heart rate, and binding things to memory.

The hippocampus works with other sections of the brain, like the amygdala, to link memories with the emotions they evoked. Imagine you burned your hand on a hot pan, for instance. Your hippocampus would relay this information and the pain it evoked to your amygdala. The next time you’re near a hot pan, you’ll remember that moment and a warning sign or sense of fear will arise in response to your stored memory.  

Hopefully this quick blog helped give you a basic, if confusing, look at how we store important and unimportant facts and events in our brains. Keep using your noggins and training them to do new things.