Final answer:
Forming a new memory involves synaptic plasticity, where structural changes happen in the brain, particularly in regions like the hippocampus. These changes can lead to the creation or strengthening of synaptic connections, reflecting the brain's ability to adapt based on experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structural changes that occur when forming a new memory involve synaptic plasticity, which is the strengthening or weakening of synapses, and potentially the formation of new synaptic connections. This form of neuroplasticity indicates that the physical structure of the brain alters in response to learning and memory formation. Notably, the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory formation and learning, demonstrates significant changes in the number of dendrites in response to hormonal variations or stress, exemplified by studies like those on estrogen's effect on dendritic plasticity (Wooley et al., Journal of Neuroscience, 10, 1990) and CUMS (Qiao et al., Neural Plasticity, 2016).
Memory is a dynamic process. When a new memory is formed, it involves construction, where different aspects of the memory, such as sights, sounds, and emotions, are encoded and stored in various parts of the brain. When these memories are retrieved, a process of reconstruction occurs, where the stored components are reassembled, and often modified by newer information, leading to potential distortions (Roediger & DeSoto, 2015).