How does the human brain store information?

The human brain is truly one of the most magnificent parts of our body.

It is what helps us function, live, breathes, think, dance, and do everything and anything we want.

It is the operating system of our body that aids our survival along with helping us strive to our maximum potential.

This entire system fits inside our skull, all the information it holds, and more.

Introduction to the Brain

As mentioned, the brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body.

This intricate organ is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses.

The brain is inherently made up of many specific and specialized areas that work together. 

We can divide our brain into the following specialized areas that work together:

1. The cortex is the outermost layer of brain cells.

Thinking and voluntary movements begin in the cortex.

2. The brain stem is between the spinal cord and the rest of the brain.

Basic functions like breathing and sleep are controlled here.

3. The basal ganglia are a cluster of structures in the center of the brain.

The basal ganglia coordinate messages between multiple other brain areas.

4. The cerebellum is at the base and the back of the brain.

The cerebellum is responsible for coordination and balance.
 
The brain is also divided into several lobes:

5. The frontal lobes are responsible for problem-solving and judgment and motor function.

6. The parietal lobes manage sensation, handwriting, and body position.

7. The temporal lobes are involved with memory and hearing.

8. The occipital lobes contain the brain's visual processing system.

Storage of Information

Summary

The storage of information can also be called memory storage.

This storage is the process by which the brain can store facts or events so that they can be helpful in the future.

It can be described as the process by which life experiences are stored and various skill sets are learned and retained in the brain. 

Memory storage is a continuous process that involves our brain.

We received several pieces of information even within a split second.

Our brains process them and then stores whatever information is valuable in the form of memory
.
These memories are stored in the brain at multiple different levels.

Memories stored at a lower level are easily forgotten while those which are stored at a higher level are retained for a longer time.

Our brain acts as a storeroom where memories are stored.

There is almost a filtration system in our brain.

Memories related to the things we are more interested in are rapidly stored and remain there for a much longer time.

There are many areas of our brain involved in the process of memory storage. These include;

a. Neocortex

b. Hippocampus

c. Amygdala

d. Prefrontal cortex

e. Basal ganglia

We can categorize the information stored in our brain based on the time for which information is stored in the brain.

Memories are of the following types;

a. Sensory memory is created when sensory information is received and processed by the brain.

b. It is either associated with some previous memory and is stored or is either discarded after its processing.

c. Short term memory is the one that is stored in the brain for some seconds to minutes

d. Working memory is a type of short-term memory that is considered important by the brain and stored for some time until a task is performed

e. Long-term memory is stored for months to years. It includes memories about facts and life events as well as memories related to some skills such as writing, typing, etc.

Types of long term memory

1) Explicit long-term memory-

Are conscious memories of events, autobiographical facts, or things a person learns.

Episodic Memories- events or autobiographical facts

Semantic Memories- general knowledge about the world

2)Implicit Long term memory-

Memories that influence a person’s behavior. However, people do not consciously think about them.

Procedural

Helps a person perform familiar tasks, such as walking or driving.

Models of memory storage

Multiple models have been proposed to elaborately and accurately describe the process of human memory storage. 

Out of these models, the two most famous models are as follows:

Atkinson-Shiffrin Memory Model

The model has the folli=owing characteristics:

a. Simple model 

b. Describes how information finds its home in long-term memory storage.

c. The only possible gateway a piece of information has to reach the planes of long-term memory is by its rigorous repetition. 

d. This was eventually rejected as many people have been found to hold memories about incidents that have only occurred once in their life

Working Memory Model

a. Complex model

b. Several components and each component plays a different role in the processing of information and preservation of memories

c. Proposed by Baddeley and Hitch

d. Actively working model that is more focused on short-term memory storage and recalling the information stored in short-term memory storage. 

e. 3 integral components act as stores, one is called central executive, the second one is known as the phonological loop and the third most is considered the visuospatial sketchpad.

f. The central executive is related to processing the information. 

g. The other two manage visual and auditory information.

h. This proves the fact that it is hard to hear or visualize two different things at the same time, rather than using the ability to hear and see each on two different subjects.

Our brain can store so much information that it is truly baffling.

Even right now, while reading this, we are encoding information and deducing and storing them in our brain, despite having so much in our brain already.

That is truly mind-boggling indeed.