How Memory Is Gained- Final Part

Today we are going to the final part of how memory is gained.

3. Retrieval

When it comes time for you to recall certain pieces of information, then the brain will activate the same pattern of cells which were used to store the information initially. If you need to recall a certain piece of information more frequently than other pieces, then it becomes much easier.

However, unfortunately, as we grow older, our memory begins to decline, and there are several reasons as to why the brain’s ability to retain, as well as retrieve, memories changes.

First, as we grow older, the hippocampus is extremely vulnerable and will deteriorate as we grow older. Because of this, it affects our ability to retain information.

Secondly, as we grow older, we begin to lose neurons, and this in turn affects the activity of the neurotransmitters and their receptors to work correctly.

Third, as we grow older, then we will often experience a decrease in the amount of blood flowing to the brain, and this means less nutrients actually getting to it. Because we have less nutrients going to our brain, it will make our brain activity less efficient compared to that of the brain in a younger person.

But these changes are often seen as a slowing down in a person’s ability to absorb, store and retrieve new information, and not actual memory loss. In fact, most of the factual information that a person has gathered over the years remains largely intact, as does our procedural memory (recall tasks and routines).

But there are some older people who may well develop more significant problems in relation to their memory as a result of either some disease such as Alzheimer’s, or because they have had a stroke, they have been injured or their nutritional intake is poor. They may also have problems in relation to their memory because of either emotional or physiological issues in their lives.

In the next article we will look into ways of how to improve our memory.