The different antenna sizes are often compared with bits of computer code, only instead of 1s and 0s they can assume a range of values. These changes in strength and size are believed to be the molecular correlates of memory. ![]() When two neurons on either side of a synapse are active simultaneously, that synapse becomes more robust the dendritic spine (the antenna on the receiving neuron) also becomes larger to support the increased signal strength. We also know that the strengths of these connections, or synapses, are regulated by experience. We know that the human brain is made up of about 100 billion neurons, and that each one makes 1,000 or more connections to other neurons, adding up to some 100 trillion in total. ![]() ![]() The question of just how much information our brains can hold is a longstanding one. The findings, recently detailed in eLife, are significant not only for what they say about storage space but more importantly because they nudge us toward a better understanding of how, exactly, information is encoded in our brains. ![]() The human brain’s memory-storage capacity is an order of magnitude greater than previously thought, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies reported last week.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |