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What is Memory Consolidation?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Memory consolidation is the process involved in coding a memory so that it can be retrieved later. Without consolidation, there would be no way to store information in the brain, which is a necessary stage in forming and storing memories for later use. Consolidation can be observed in a wide range of animal species and animals appear to have varying capacities for forming and storing new memories. A number of things can interfere with memory consolidation.

The process of memory consolidation begins within minutes on a synaptic level as the brain encounters something and interacts with it. System consolidation happens in the long term over weeks and months as the brain develops pathways that can be used to access a memory. Research on the brain has demonstrated that rather than being filed away in one location, memories are actually spread across the brain. Consolidation is the process of making memories accessible, essentially creating a map or index to the brain so that memories can be retrieved when they are needed.

Memory consolidation is believed to be improved during REM sleep.
Memory consolidation is believed to be improved during REM sleep.

Once a memory has been stored, it can be recalled at will. Initially, people believed that memories were permanently stored. However, researchers have since learned that in fact, they may need to be reconsolidated each time they are recalled. Memories become “labile,” meaning that they are fragile and can potentially be disrupted, when they are recalled. Reconsolidation returns the recalled memory back to its proper place in the brain so it can be used again.

The hippocampus plays a key role in memory formation and storage.
The hippocampus plays a key role in memory formation and storage.

A number of functions are involved in memory consolidation. The hippocampus appears to play an important role in memory formation and storage. Other parts of the brain can have varying degrees of involvement, depending on the memory involved. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep also appears to help with the process of memory consolidation, while sleep in general is believed to help the brain refresh.

Damage to the hippocampus may cause problems with memory consolidation and storage.
Damage to the hippocampus may cause problems with memory consolidation and storage.

Interesting phenomena have been observed with learning. While memory consolidation normally takes an extended period of time, studies of people involved in learning tasks have shown that the brain can consolidate a memory successfully in less than an hour in some cases. The methods used to present the information appear to be important, as does the level of repetitiveness. Repeating the same information over and over can cause synaptic changes that lead to rapid consolidation of memory, explaining the long role of recitation in learning, from the techniques used by ancient scholars to memorize epic poems, to those taught to modern students for memorizing things like the times tables and the periodic table of elements.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Renegade

There is such thing as sleep dependent memory consolidation. Without proper sleep, our brain is unable to fully recover from the events of the day, and unable to store memories as efficiently as it should. In REM sleep, important functions such as procedural memory are enhanced. REM sleep requires more time than just what a nap can provide. A nap may rejuvenate you for verbal memory and other minor functions, but does not fully refresh your mind like REM sleep does.

Armas1313

Visual memory can be stored in the memory via the optical section of the brain. In dreams, our brain generates these memories and re-projects them into our mind in a backward manner. The images are generated from within rather than from without, with memories being recycled and consolidated.

dbuckley212

Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to bridge or branch out in response to usage and expansion. This is an important factor in memory function in the brain. The brain is like a fractal or branches of a tree, and each branch expands as it receives and stores more sunlight, or knowledge. Nurturing a good brain is an important part of growing it in potential and in action.

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    • Memory consolidation is believed to be improved during REM sleep.
      By: Ana Blazic Pavlovic
      Memory consolidation is believed to be improved during REM sleep.
    • The hippocampus plays a key role in memory formation and storage.
      By: pankajstock123
      The hippocampus plays a key role in memory formation and storage.
    • Damage to the hippocampus may cause problems with memory consolidation and storage.
      By: chuugo
      Damage to the hippocampus may cause problems with memory consolidation and storage.
    • Damage to the hippocampus can cause Alzheimer's disease, which often produces symptoms of disorientation and loss of long-term memory.
      By: godfer
      Damage to the hippocampus can cause Alzheimer's disease, which often produces symptoms of disorientation and loss of long-term memory.