Final answer:
Memories are not stored in one part of the brain but distributed in connections among neurons, involving synaptic plasticity and brain regions like the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum, with neurogenesis contributing to learning and memory into adulthood.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question is biology, referring to how memories are thought to be stored in the connections among neurons within the brain, a concept based on neural plasticity and pioneering work by researchers like Karl Lashley and others. This area of study examines the dynamic nature of how memories form through synaptic connections, alterations in dendritic structures, and the involvement of various brain structures such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum in different types of memory processing.
To provide a direct answer in two lines, memories are stored throughout the brain in connections among neurons, and this occurs via mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and restructuring of neuronal connections.
Neurogenesis also plays a crucial role in memory and learning, with new neurons being formed in areas like the hippocampus, even in adulthood. This not only contributes to memory storage and learning but also how stress and exercise can impact the formation of new neural connections. Furthermore, the release of various neurotransmitters aids in memory consolidation and the strengthening of synaptic connections.
Researchers like Lashley sought evidence of the engram but shifted the understanding toward a distributed model of memory storage, influenced by factors such as emotional response and environmental stress, hinting at the intricate and resilient nature of the brain's capacity to adapt and remember.