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    • Apr 14, 2023
    • 3 min read

Brains, Ice Cream, And Many Memories

Written by Mariana Mastache-Maldonado

Have you ever eaten ice cream or listened to a song that transported you to a specific moment in the past? If so, you have experienced associative memory, one of the most fundamental forms of memory that we use in our daily lives. This form of memory belongs to a larger category known as declarative memory, which helps us remember events and facts that we have personally experienced.


It may seem like a strange and even fictional concept that something we sense can trigger a memory or mental image. But have you ever wondered how these memories are created? What happens in our brains for this to occur? The answer lies in the process of consolidation, where new information, such as names, dates, and events, is acquired and strengthened to be stored in our long-term memory. This process requires a memory center in our brain, and many scientists point to the medial temporal lobe, which includes the hippocampal, amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and parahippocampal regions, as this center.


The entorhinal cortex, which is part of the medial temporal lobe, contains a type of neuron called fan cells. These cells are influenced by dopamine, a key molecule that plays a significant role in the brain's biology of reward and pleasure. But dopamine also has a connection to memory, particularly when it comes to the transformation of short-term memories into long-term ones.


Studies have shown that the release of dopamine can strengthen memories. This implies that dopamine acts as a trigger for the fan-shaped neurons involved in this process. Without these cells, we wouldn't be able to acquire new associations or form new memories of this type.


Circuits and storages of memories


When you taste ice cream, it activates the reward centers in your brain. This sets off circuits that serve as the framework for information flow. Imagine it as a map of a big city, with different routes connected. Instead of cars, there are interconnected neurons that receive electrochemical information. These neurons modify or transmit information to other circuits, allowing for the integration of information to perform cognitive functions, like memorizing something.



For associative memory, the entorhinal cortex-hippocampus circuit is activated, allowing neurons to transform sensory stimuli into relevant information for memory before sending it to the hippocampus. Eventually, memories stored in the hippocampus can be transferred to the neocortex. To know if consolidation of an associative memory was successful, we evoke memory and visit the memory stores stored in important areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, neocortex, and amygdala.



It is fascinating how a childhood ice cream re-tasted years later can trigger a host of memories. Memories of important events in our daily lives can exert a significant influence on our behavior, and understanding these mechanisms better could lead to successful treatments for memory-related disorders.


Memory is a crucial aspect of our lives, and learning how the brain forms and stores memories can help us comprehend the workings of our minds. By delving deeper into the circuits and storages of memories, we can enhance our understanding of memory-related disorders and develop more effective treatments to improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from memory loss.


References:

  1. Igarashi, K. M., Lu, L., Colgin, L. L., Moser, M. B., & Moser, E. I. (2014). Coordination of entorhinal–hippocampal ensemble activity during associative learning. Nature, 510(7503), 143-147.

  2. Lee, J. Y., Jun, H., Soma, S., Nakazono, T., Shiraiwa, K., Dasgupta, A., … & Igarashi, K. M. (2021). Dopamine facilitates associative memory encoding in the entorhinal cortex. Nature, 598(7880), 321-326.

  3. Squire, L. R. (1992). Memory and the hippocampus: a synthesis from findings with rats, monkeys, and humans. Psychological review, 99(2), 195.


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