Memory Search and Amnesia Memorysearch the Concept

Memory Search and Amnesia

MemorySearch

The concept of the central nervous system suggests that the brain and nervous system is an immutable object within the body that once developed, cannot change. However recent discoveries within the field of neuroplasticity have shown that the brain is indeed mutable and changing. Even following injury the brain has the ability to create modified functional structures and to create new synapses and electrical connections. The purpose of this paper is to explore the cellular mechanisms that underlie neuroplastic phenomena in the brain and to relate them to memory, learning and function throughout the body.

Historically neuroscientists and biologists believed the brain was a rather immutable structure that once developed, could no longer change much. The brain could retain information, memorize and learn, but past childhood the brain did not have the ability to form map new synapsis and electrical connections. Thanks to the discovery of neuroplasticity, neuroscientists now know the brain is much more complex with the capacity to create and form new structures, and map new synaptic connections. This implies new memories can be created and new synaptic and electrical pathways can be created even in damaged brains to circumvent damaged pathways. New structures can even be created to help recreate structures that are injured or damaged. The implications of such discoveries are endless.

Neuroplasticity

There is much research on the brain and its ability to retain memory, create new memories and to heal injury. Disease and injury have tremendous effects on the brains ability to function. Historically scientists have claimed that most development in the brain, particularly functional development halts sometime after or during childhood. The theories of neuroplasticity debunk these outdated theories.

Neuroplasticity suggests the brain and nervous system change structurally and functionally based on the input the brain receives from our environment. Plasticity occurs on many different levels in the brain; these include cellular changes that occur during learning, when memory can occur, and larger scale changes that can occur during cortical remapping which often can occur following injury, which can affect memory and can invoke amnesia (Chakrabourty et al. 2007). Much of neuroscience conforms to the belief that there is a critical period during childhood after which the structure of the brain is basically immutable or unchangeable. However, according to recent research including that of Garland & Howard (2009) there is compelling support there are psychosocial forces that demonstrate that the adult brain can continue to form "novel neural connections and grow new neurons in response to learning or training" even well into old age.

This biopsychosocial perspective is a foundation to social work theory and practice, and a leading topic in current research in psychosocial genomics. Milton Erickson's neuro-psychophysiology and the work of other scientists suggests that there are conditions that would optimize gene expression and neurogenesis, or the creation of new genes and regeneration of the brain to form new genes and neural connections (Rossi, 2003). These include "novelty, environmental enrichment, and exercise" (Rossi, p. 198). Certain time parameters could also enhance memory and aid in the synthesizing of new brain synapses and the maturation of new, functioning neurons (Rossi, 2003).

Chakraborty, et al. (2007) state that the brain is a dynamic system of neural network that has "the capability of significant growth under favorable circumstances" which opens the possibility of treatment of disorders where "neural loss of synaptic decay is a major factor in molecular aetiopathogenesis" (p. 516). It can also provide new approaches to amnesia, depression and even conditions as epilepsy. Neuroplasticity suggests the brain can change and repair itself in numerous ways including functional modifications of the existing structures in the brain, and by formation, by growing and creating new structures and neurons. Thus plasticity can be possible by growth, through various mechanisms including axonal regeneration and reactive synaptogenesis, and functional plasticity, including changes in synaptic transmission including "long-term potentiation and activation of formerly silent synapsis" (Bergado-Rosado & Almaquer-Melian (2000, p. 1075).

Conclusions

When brain damage occurs, the brain has the ability to recreate structures and thus facilitate new memory or repair structures. Learning and memory can be enhanced through environment exposure to new things. Enhanced learning is available through the creation of new synaptic connections. Plasticity is an amazing concept. Synaptic decay does not have to occur through emotional factors as depression if neuroplasticity is further explored and used to the greatest advantage possible.