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    Memory is the most beautiful part of our existence. It is like being in the company of blooming flowers, though with thorns too. It is this chapter of life that has inspired poets the most. Growth of the world also depends largely upon this factor. One can get real life characters from their memory and bring them to life. 

    Let us try to find what this magical word is in reality. It is the function by which information stored in the brain is later recalled to consciousness. This retained information covers all type of materials, experiences, information and learning over a period of time. Like the computer hard drive, memory stored in the brain is also measured in bits. A person receives information from all quarters through the senses. Eyes see things happening, nose smells, skin feels and ears listen. This information is transferred to the brain for storage. The structures of the brain involved in the process of storage are cortex, hippocampus and the cerebellum. The available space for the storage and formation of memory is around one billion neurons including a layer of 4.6 million cells in the hippocampus.

TYPES OF MEMORY:
·    Immediate (or short term) memory is reproduction, recognition or recall of perceived materials within a period of up to 30 seconds after presentation.
·    Recent memory concerns events over the past few hours or days.
·    Recent past memory concerns the retention of the information over the past few months.
·     Remote memory is the ability to remember events in distant past, e.g. childhood memory.

     Any information required to be stored is transformed into a memory trace or memory link. An electrical or chemical impulse passes through neurons when the brain receives information. This information could be in the form of smell, data, emotions or visual. In the brain, it triggers the formation of connections between synapses. As the key to good memory is storage, any relating material to something already known creates more pathways and in turn increases the storage power.

     Long-term memories are retained for longer duration than short term as they have links with number of connections in the cortex. The more the connections, the better is the chance of forming a neural pathway leading to that particular memory. Repeated re-living of a memory enhances its permanence.

    Short term and long term memories also differ in the amount of information that could be stored. The capacity of short term memory in limited to only five to nine bits of information, where as space provided for the long term in unlimited.

    Processing of the information is another step in this complex system. The information, visual, data, smell, voice and emotions are stored in the form of images or pictures. When one recalls something, these images are summoned and are clothed in words of language and then presented. Our brain is empowered with such a big capacity, in quiet versatile and elaborated form that even a few hundred super computers won't be able to do the job. E.g., brain stores profile of each person with his / her visual view from all the angles, style of walking, voice, movements of hands, eyes etc., with minutest of details. The file of each person with further links and network with other links forms the database of the memory.

    Can we enhance our memory? This is most frequently asked question. Yes it can be done. As exercise is required for the strength and physical growth, mental exercise is required for strengthening the memory. As the short memory has little capacity, its information is to be uploaded in the long-term memory. It could be done by repeated exposure to the same information or re-living of a memory. E.g., repeated revision of study material and its expression in the form of writing or repeating it verbally after memorizing makes that study material part of our long term memory as it has created more pathways or link files thus increasing the storage power.

Other factors effecting memory are as follows: -
·    Mood:     A person's mood affects the learning and recall of material. Learning material while in a happy mood enhances memory and a person recalls material better while in a happy mood.

·    Stress:     Learning and memory are affected by stress. The increase in adrenaline resulting from stress can enhance learning. If stress is heavy, learning is inhibited.

·    Emotions:     Memory is adversely affected by emotional trauma and lack of effort caused by psychological exertion or too much input.

     In this world of presentation, where much depends on performance, good memory is the most important virtue to possess. A common man is using 7 to 8 % of total mental faculty and the rest lies un-used. Nature has provided us with un-limited strength and we must learn to use this for mankind and our own self.

Deepinder Singh
Post Graduate in Homeopathic Medicine
Former Professor Homeopathic College, Punjab, India
Homoeo Healers
Asst. Prof.: L.M.H. Medical College