About Memory

What will happen to memory when we die, it may  help us first what memories are, our brain contains around one hundred billion neurons that communicates with each other across gaps called synapses, using  proteins and chemicals called  neurotransmitters. A memory is formed when certain proteins like AKT and CaMKII strength in the synaptic connection the formation of long term memories take time and occurs over stages a process named as memory consolidation, once complete the neurons involved in the original process become a fixed combination  to help us remember the entire event from sound to taste but over time memories could fade or alter , scientists have found that memories are malleable and can change during recall or from outside suggestion  and as we age certain types of memories like the association between two things or the recollection of the specific details diminish. Researchers think that this maybe due to the fact that the Hippocampus shrinks as we age, which is the region of the brain that stores this type of memory compared to the other organs our brains require much more energy to function that is why it’s the first organ to fail or become irreversibly injured when the heart starts pumping, such as during cardiac arrest, the first part of the brain to go is Hippocampus which plays a big role In memory storage if a heart function isn’t restored, the entire brain will shut down in just four or five minutes  but just three minutes without blood flow leads to brain injury that will progressively get worse and eventually become irreversible even if the person is ressestiated or brought back to life, that is why many survivors of cardiac attack suffers from memory loss even years after the event. In year 2009 study of cardiac survivors treated with hypothermia to protect brain function, one third had moderate to severe memory difficulties and nearly half had mildly affected long term memory measured by  the river me behavioral memory test  but a number of cardiac rest patient have reported memories of near death experiences that occurred after their heart had stopped beating and they were considered clinically dead .In one study 40% reported having weirdness during this time and another 10% reported memories of this period , this may be caused by a surge in a electrical activity in the brain after death.

By – Abhishek Singh

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