When talking about memory many use the analogy of it being stored in a drawer in the brain. Drawers will open when we think about a specific memory. But a recent study from researchers in Switzerland found that the brain actually stores up to three copies of each memory like the RAID storage used in computers.
The study was carried out on the hippocampus part of the rat brain by researchers from the University of Basel. This brain structure that looks like a seahorse (hippocampus is seahorse in Greek) is important for storing memory, learning and even emotions. When a memory is created, it is stored in three clusters of neurons that are spread over several parts of the brain.
These clusters of neurons appear at different stages during embryonic development. The earliest cluster of neurons will store long-term memory but can only be accessed later. The middle neuron cluster stores a more stable memory. Meanwhile, the last cluster stores memory that was strong at the beginning but over time could no longer be accessed.
By understanding how memories are stored in the brain, scientists can use them to help people who are traumatized by events in their lives. It is also hoped to facilitate the process of restoring memory lost due to aging or injury. The study was published in the journal Science.