At the fundamental level a memory is formed when a stimulus from (usually) the external environment excites a receptor, say the eye or ear. That receptor converts that physical stimulus into an electro/chemical/protein/etc. signal that travels through the brain’s neural network. The signal goes first to the thalamus which is the distribution point in the brain’s limbic system.
The signal then goes immediately to the amygdala which checks it for real or perceived threat. The amygdala is the gatekeeper of the emotional brain and the centre of emotional memory. If there is a threat, physically or socially the amygdala will initiate a ‘general adaptive response’ that ensures survival. No other significant learning will take place.
If the amygdala does not perceive a danger in the signal it will go to the
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This is the function of our working memory and is why the hippocampus is recognised as being crucial to memory formation. Any single memory is encoded in many areas and recall or application depends on the coordination of those areas.
Transport across the web takes place through neural pathways each with a specific route. Each route is distinguished from the billions of possibilities through the unique combination of electrical, chemical, protein and other conditions between each individual neuron in that pathway. This gap is called the synapse and is where and how thoughts are transmitted. The initiation of this process is the fundamental learning. These unique conditions between each neuron can be likened to the handshake between recognised friends. They connect like ‘minded’ neurons.
The formation of new, more accurately the increase complexity of existing networks, in response to change is called neural plasticity. Until recently, the ability to change existing networks was considered only to be possible in the cerebral cortex, the cognitive