What Changes in the Brain When We Learn?

Idan Segev

We have, in the next place, to treat of Memory and Remembering, considering its nature, its cause, and the part of the soul to which this experience, as well as that of Recollecting, belongs. (Aristotle in his treatise On Memory and Reminiscence)

Abstract
In many ways we are the albums of memories we have collected in our brain. The creation of this ever-changing brain-album is made possible because of the amazing tendency of the neuronal substrate to constantly change following new experiences. These physical changes undergo progressive stabilization in the brain, sometimes forming long-term memories. What are the physical changes underlying memory in our "brain machine"? The developments of new optical, electrical and molecular technologies enable one, for the first time ever, to view the living brain while it changes and learns. The major recent advances in this fascinating field of research are briefly summarized herein. A brief introduction to the brain "life-ware" is provided, followed by a highlighting of the main modifiable (plastic) neuronal mechanisms that may support learning and memory in the brain. It is worth emphasizing that when the unique learning mechanisms that brains utilize are eventually unraveled, we could then help to cure memory deficits, expand our memory capacity and begin building learning machines that will successfully behave in, and adapt to, the ever-changing environment that surrounds us.

Press here to read the complete article as a pdf file.