By engrams we mean the brainmarks left by each of our experiments, this process of small neural structures caused by a specific sensation, a traumatic event or an emotion impossible to forget was already defined by Hinduism in its day: it was the Samskaras, impressions of a learning memory.
Although no one doubts today the existence of engrams, the mechanism by which these impressions are formed remains a mystery; we know, for example, that when we experience high emotional stress, a stable neural interconnection structure instantly appears, which will eventually influence everyone. of our mental functioning: thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Something, no doubt, fascinating.
- Now.
- The way you mark it? Neural determination of our behavior is something no one can predict.
- So.
- Given this subtle mechanism of action.
- Are there those who regard engrams as “chips”?Brains; that is.
- The recordings on our hard drive that lead us to react in a certain way.
Perhaps these are engrams that articulate many of our fears, which lead us to react in a certain way to certain stimuli?For example, a series of engrams were formed in our childhood, we are talking about an interesting topic that deserves to be explored.
We speak at the beginning of the text of the term Samskara, in this philosophical context Hindus have coined a word to name this phenomenon, let us think about how, sometimes, we act singularly in the face of certain facts, almost not knowing why. Within this spiritual current, the Samskara are interpreted as codes of “karma” as impressions of a memory that integrates in both our bodies and our minds.
At the same time, it is curious to see that in different scientific fields, such as neuroscience, this idea has an almost parallel history. Let’s look at an example. Ana is 5 years old and she is learning to ride a bike, at some point a large dog attacks him and bites him, today, 20 years later, Ana still does not dare to ride a bike, she is not afraid of dogs, but has created an engram in her brain that says the act of pedaling with fear and pain.
Scientists tell us that engrams are clear evidence of how classical conditioning is orchestrated in our brains. In fact, sometimes we react specifically to stimuli that seem quite “neutral. “However, for this to happen, for an engram to form in our brain, must it be an activation of the limbic system, that is, do we have to experience a particular, revealing and intense emotion?(whether positive or negative).
We now know that much of our psychic life is based on engrams; when we see a rose, for example, we feel some pleasure because somehow we anticipate its smell, even if it doesn’t reach us. When we drink a cup of chocolate, we evoke childhood memories, when we hear a song that is familiar to us, we immediately feel a series of sensations of well-being, pleasure and satisfaction.
Engrams form our consciousness, and how the neural networks that are built while we live are anchoring experiences that trace all that we are, what makes us react, vibrate with fear or happiness?It is an organic and electrical material organized according to our interactions. However, for neuroscientists, it is difficult to shed light on how this “physical-chemical-neuronal” network is formed, through which synaptic pathways are generated and neurons are organized to form an engram.
For scientists it is fascinating to think that there is a specific type of neuron for this function, are, so to speak, organic structures whose only function is to be part of our consciousness, build our psyche, organize into small chips?by heart, where small traces of who we are live.
Recent studies, such as those conducted by neurologists Michele Pignatelli, Tomus J. Ryan and Susumu Tonegawa reveal something important to us: when we are born, our brain is already genetically prepared for engrams to start activating a few seconds after reaching the world. It’s as if each of us has a factory computer, which once turned on, starts installing its own software.
However, for this programming to be the best, the most resilient and at the same time agile and effective, our early experiences, those of childhood, must be stimulating and positive enough, in this way, our first neural engrams will be foundations laden with energy, memories and motivating learnings that can maximize our development.