What if you could eradicate the bad memories from your mind? Everyone has thought about this at least once in their lifetime.
Our brain stores good and bad memories in different areas of the brain
The brain stores memories as networks of neurons, also known as engrams, which are located in various areas. Emotional information is also captured by these engrams, not just incoming stimuli.
A recent study by neuroscientist Steve Ramirez from Boston University has identified the specific areas in the brain where positive and negative memories are stored. Moreover, hundreds of markers that differentiate positive-memory neurons from negative-memory neurons were also discovered in the study.
Engrams not only gather details about external stimuli but also retain emotional information. A recent research conducted by Steve Ramirez, a neuroscientist from Boston University, has identified the specific areas in the brain where positive and negative memories are stored. Moreover, the study has identified numerous markers that distinguish positive-memory neurons from negative-memory neurons.
Ramirez discovered in 2019 that the hippocampus, a structure responsible for storing sensory and emotional information needed for memory formation and retrieval, stores good and bad memories in different regions. When mice experienced pleasurable events, the top part of the hippocampus was activated, while negative experiences activated the bottom region.
Researchers discovered that certain regions of the brain are connected to memory manipulation. By activating the upper area of the hippocampus, negative memories became less traumatic.
However, activating the bottom section resulted in long-term anxiety-related behavioral changes in mice. The reason for this difference in effect is believed to be due to the different functions of neurons that store good and bad memories. In order to fully understand this difference, the cells responsible for storing these memories must first be identified. The findings of this study were published in the journal Communications Biology.
