Mind Over Molecules: The Biology of Memory

Explore memory’s biological blueprint as Brian Greene and Cristina Alberini probe the science behind our most cherished recollections, and discuss what may be the key to the formation of long-term memories.
This program is part of the Big Ideas series, supported by the John Templeton Foundation.
Participant:
Cristina Alberini
Moderator:
Brian Greene
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[@AS-xi9df]

I'm currently watching this from deep within the African Congo me and my team are on a much needed five day rest back at base camp we have been studying some of the last known gorillas on the planet stay safe guys 👍

[@ShonMardani]

Nothing she said makes sense. GOD please help our children, too late for us.

[@darialaskowska]

Wow!

[@saspredydious9295]

@AS-xi9df. Incredibly important work! May God bless you and keep you all safe and well!

[@Known-unknowns]

@@ShonMardaniYou’re certainly not making sense. You need to get real and stop believing in Leprechauns. By the way, it’s not ‘to late for us’ . Cheer up !

[@ShonMardani]

I only said "GOD please help our children, too late for us", what part of it dose not make sense to you? Tell me one thing that she said and made sense to you. @@Known-unknowns

[@clarajose3072]

In a world where we are constantly stimulated to move on to the "next thing" (whatever that may be), this interview shows us how this interferes with our ability to learn, which is intrinsically linked to the ability to form lasting memories. We really need to slow down.

[@danielasteierer6135]

Right?? Wonder why the school system does not spread academic subjects like chemistry, mathematics, and physics over the week? Now days confused students come to class super confused without at least one day break from learning.. Let’s schedule math on Monday and Thursday and chemistry on Tue and Friday.. you get the idea!!

[@0ptimal]

Loved the questions. Ive had random recalls of things i havent thought of in decades. Especially when music is involved. As if the memory is sitting somewhere perfectly intact, and only needs a key to unlock. Very interesting subject

[@riofabellore9263]

This is great! Finally I am able to watch WSF discussion live in KZbin, big fan here of Prof. Brian Greene...from UAE..

[@funnycompilations8314]

This was amazing. For me, these conversations on how our brain works are the most fascinating.

[@jesusguerrero4097]

THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST PODCASTS I''VE EVER SEEN,THANK YOU!!👍👍👍👍

[@Reza090]

Thanks Brian and the team. ❤❤

[@criscris5061]

It was wonderful. Thank you Brian Green.

[@IntuitiveIQ]

I already forgot the beginning of this conversation. 😅 The most important thing about memories is that they can change. For example, you can experience something traumatic, and in the short-term remember it in a way that causes trauma - bad thoughts and negative emotions - but then later you can heal that experience and remember it in a completely different way. Now your memory can create acceptance & forgiveness, and a heightened self-awareness, wisdom and higher emotions. Ultimately, the past is just a memory. It doesn't exist anymore. And so, we can learn how to transform the past into something positive, even if initially it was negative.

[@rocky5152]

We can also remember the trauma and be cautious to prevent future traumas.

[@garypuckettmuse]

If you have any good overview reference about this kind of transformation of memories I would love the references. Thank you in advance.

[@eensio]

Very good questions. Because nervecells forms a net, which has limited capasity to change, the hormone system helps. But the nature of memory seems to be complex and unclear. It is more dynamic than structural fenomena. Both are needed. The attention to the Freudian unconsiousness was splendid.

[@bepaminondas7520]

For Brian: In search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust is a classic novel on memory

[@manolingz]

Thanks, I tried searching for the title but it seems it comes in five volumes !?!

[@michael-4k4000]

Everyone three cheers for Brian Green, hip hip? Hip hip? Hip hip?

[@vitr1916]

In my opinion, the memory may be created by most critical things as: Pay attention. Trying. Love to trying. However, any condition may able to change those things in my opinion, like aging condition… A football fan and a soccer fan always are talking and have a good understanding about their own favorite sport.

[@JoeyCbr]

i just want the algorithm to auto like any video by WSF

[@aiditariveratorres6429]

Concerning the conference on memory by the scientist Cristina, I would have loved to hear her address the types of foods that helps motivate a healthy brain and healthy thinking. Much of the information given by her, I already read on my psychology books and in molecular biology processes. Maybe Prof. Brian could interview neurologists studying nutrition to enhance the memory and thinking experience. Nutrition that promotes the neurofactors, neurotransmitters production to strengthen the memory pathways on adults and seniors.

[@TheJimNeiL]

Love your content! ❤

[@wernerkarl]

One of the best discussions ! Cristiana Alberini thank you for your contribution to science 👌 ONLY ONE COMMENT: The fake applause (audio) used during Editing does not bring any extra value to the discussion.

[@stephenarmiger8343]

Lots of useful information!

[@davidpierce9065]

Interesting, so to my thinking after listening to this is that, consciousness is the result of an algorithm (or something similar) built on experience and memories.

[@jmanj3917]

1:00 I'm so happy... I'm finally watching one of these live...lol

[@person2702]

Facinating

[@virgiliustancu9293]

At this moment in time I don't think that the 'experts' really understand what they are doing.

[@patriciadrexel5055]

Cheers from México

[@TheMemesofDestruction]

Professor Wolfram mentioned something the other day about, ‘concept space.’ 🤔

[@manolingz]

My unusual memory triggers are odors and taste, but also the usual songs when I was growing up.

[@karlgoebeler1500]

If I may and this is outside my skill set. This is from experience. The brain processes experience from a "Threat/Desire" perspective. Will this experience cause pain or will it create pleasure. My memorys of pain will remain forever depending upon th degree of pain experienced.

[@euor800]

It's regarding AI coexisting with the DNA study. 1. IBM providing grants for the bio-calculations since 1985. So, it was recovered ability to calculate and storing data using DNA. 2. The synthetic biology studying long & short molecular and multi-cells memory since 1980-es 3. Since 1991 it was found increasing of the long term memory with applying of micro doses of the nicotine acid. Today, Europeans manufactures the pills (vitamins) based on the acid.

[@jthompson120db]

In the field of Physics, they tend to not run into the problem of ethical concerns of human trials ... so fruit fly's, and other species are just what we were mainly bound with. There hasn't been a full on scale of human trials since the Holocaust, so that has been a major problem (especially since we can still find out our system tends to vary more than we thought previously ... between species). Our work, as in all other fields, has our obstacles which burden us on our adventures (some more so their own brains limitation on understanding the world through our Phaneron).

[@Jill_Clarke]

We don't need a holocaust. Due to the science discovery and doctors, scientists, trials,fda , free samples, pharmaceutical, social security numbers internet , quantum physics every thing in this world is what life is about. Literally!

[@dullrider356]

lots about the mechanism of memory, but nothing about storage/indexing. I would like to have heard some discussion about the location of memories and whether there might be some redundancy built in. Also how our system can instantaneously recall, or assert that we don't know, a particular fact. And one aspect I think is really weird, how can we claim to know something if we can't recall it ("it's on the tip of my tongue" moments) - another session please

[@pankajkumarpaul5015]

hello Sir Brain Greene!😍

[@pingzhang7698]

“Automatically remembering” is sync, and sync is spontaneous process.

[@aminam9201]

10:00 Regarding how much insects can process and remember, their current approach will never work! For instance they can’t imagine the amount of memory that Mosquito can hold and process, let har watch insects carefully, they rely on processing huge amount of information (high level related to memory)! Molecular approach can’t help them to figure out how memory works.

[@aminam9201]

Humans can generate long term memory from first time too in specific situations. Not only that! Many humans those who had heart transplant acquired long term memory! they can’t understand the real differences between short and long term memories! Long term memory is direct part of self concept itself while short term memory is shared.

[@Jill_Clarke]

Many people who are exposed the traumas, physically, psychological, drug addictions become apart of the spiritual realm. This is quantum entanglement. When a person passes and part of the vessel is separated the electric current when joined can have a particular or particular memory or feelings sensation. Energy exist it can never be destroyed. But when not in a vessel to contain the while energy . Which is the heart and the brain molecules separate so do energy that can't be seen with the human eye. Aka the void.

[@priyakulkarni9583]

talk about how exactly recall memory comes up in our mind. Is it because of patterns of photons stored in hippo? Or vibrations? How exactly at molecular level these memory images seen in the mind?? Where is it played like video or pic? In the CSF brain 🧠 fluid? Water 💧 picture???

[@REDPUMPERNICKEL]

Yes, the question was "The Biology of Memory". I too was hoping to learn the latest about how brains do it.

[@Jill_Clarke]

What about the gastroparesis it causes.. the ilius that stoos

[@charlie-km1et]

Memories are classified into two categories: Long term memory - can we please get an exact definition Short term memory - is what exactly? Explicit, implicit, spatial etc etc etc. These are ALL literally just categories completely made up of subjective observations by us. Smell memory, taste, sight, sound, combinations there of…shapes, colors etc etc etc…that doesn’t explain in anyway the material reductionist view of exactly what a memory is in its molecular form. Physics dictates by the table of elements that to exist in this Universe we need matter of some form, don’t we? Categories are not matter…it’s a young science starting in the late 80s? Brain Regions help us understand where but they do not answer the question of EXACTLY how and exactly where memories are stored. In the microtubules in the form of sodium, chloride, potassium? What does the memory of eating ice cream look like in the brain in brain cells and neurons? Are memories stored in chemical form? Or is it neurons connecting in a particular pattern in combination with chemical messengers as well as neuron firing speeds?

[@ebrahimsarrami1373]

Great brain... Brian,,,hello u....!

[@SonaliSenguptasengupso41]

Epigenetics at work !! Memory recall = opening up neurotransmitter channels for easier transmission/reception of nerve impulses.

[@IndranilBiswas_]

Dr Greene looks great as ever. He's increasingly resembling Einstein - anyone else noticed that??

[@aminam9201]

It’s possible to try to understand how so-called working memory works within the current limited accumulated scientific knowledge but it’s impossible to understand the process of how temporary memory becomes permanent or the relationship between both of them, that has to do with Limbic system which works similar to processing unit that includes memory, Limbic systems is far more complicated than they can imagine, Limbic system will keep impressing scientists even after thousands of years to come (no exaggeration at all).

[@Jill_Clarke]

Well actually it's imprinting of the brain and memories..Feeling they say don't matter but they do. Negative let's say energy or person situations cause trauma. Stress causes cortisol release of negative feeling sometimes then we have negative effects of not bring acceptance. Neuroplasisty is the change also of the brain functions and changing the way our body processes stress and feeling. Changing memories we convert.

[@Jill_Clarke]

So positive vibrations are needed self worth self confidence changing your mind from the victimized state to the state of mind that you chose this life and you take and learn and become curious and you study to learn. Thus is nor only boost of confidence but changing the chemistry of the brain and the body. It's hard work I think j I. Proof of this

[@carlosmenendez4883]

For me (not a brain expert at all) memories and recalling them has to be the basis of conciousness and self awareness

[@rocky5152]

In some non human animals as well.

[@REDPUMPERNICKEL]

I (also not a brain expert at all) agree that memory is necessary in order to be conscious but also that there must be present in the brain at least one memory/thought with a particular content, specifically, the memory/thought we refer to as 'the self', since it is obvious that it is my self who is conscious.

[@Najur.]

I'm devastated how our current Study and work culture or for general lifestyle for that matter, has completely disregarded the importance of Sleep.

[@Jill_Clarke]

Sleep is great to heal rge mind. But sometimes stressing the mind in away of over thinking almost daizing off like falling asleep into like a meditative mind helps us become clever But daily meditation can do this without the negative effects

[@Chemicalevolution198]

MEMORY FORMATION AND RETRIEVAL The dentate gyrus which is a part of hippocampus itself, is where memory or information is stored . It’s corresponding part can be considered a chip set or hard disk of your computer or chips in smart phones Just as per theory of semiconductors , in case of the ionic lattice of microtubules , in pyramidal cells of dentate gyrus . When an electron from covalent band jumps to conduction band , It creates a hole behind it and overlaps each other , in turn it thus makes an energy gap of less than 1 MVs of electro motive force . Information , to be stored , It needs permanent + charges or else protons induced by inputs’ rhythms based on lengths and angles of covalent atoms . Likewise , You do keep in your mind what you here , feel and see . By the way , when it comes to bio-chemical aspect , NMDA receptors play the main role in this regard by virtue of “ hormones ” and Glutamate regulated by “ Enzymes “ . We will discuss it later .

[@jamesharris5156]

Where do I invest?

[@aminam9201]

19:30 that’s incorrect because they can’t differentiate between self concept and personal identity, even though personal identity is a kind of simulation of self concept but they are not the same regarding memory, but they share memory, for instance during dreams self concept uses short term memory too, but humans recognise dreams through consciousness type two (that’s why humans can remember some dreams). During dream you use consciousness type two mot type one that you uses right now, it’s different but that’s why its name is consciousness type two ,….etc

[@jmanj3917]

5:41 Idk, Doc... After all of my head injuries, I'm pretty sure that my two memory systems are The Broken One and The One Doesn't Work Very Well Anymore...lol

[@Jill_Clarke]

Just because you see the world differently meab that your chosen! You are walking the path less followed. Congratulations.! When you realize that quantum physics is spiritual process and you listen to all sides all walks of life and put it together and share it with people to help the world heal and come to peaceful knowing of what'd going on and you know that what you believe you share and stand your ground. As long as your not hurting yourself or anyone eles and your trying to better the earth that one who walks as jeeze its us. Not Jesus!!

[@attheranch873]

Same here. My mind has become dull from head injuries I’m sorry to say.!

[@attheranch873]

@@Jill_Clarke CHOSEN? You have got to be kidding. I’ve had several head injuries, and it’s not that I see the world differently. It’s That my mind is dull, I lost 20 IQ points and memory.

[@suzettecolombo4179]

Outstanding!!! and I made it live for once lol

[@danielasteierer6135]

I am wondering why Brian Green has not invited others along this scientist, so we have a dialogue from different perspectives..wish Oliver Sacks would still be alive to participate in this.. also the incredible Feldman Barrett and R Sapolsky etc..

[@markoszouganelis5755]

Thank you! 🌈🌈

[@bretnetherton9273]

Awareness is known by awareness alone.

[@Jill_Clarke]

So why would you turn the liver off to secrete insulin

[@tejaK]

❤🙏❤

[@Stanman121]

I think my brain overloaded with Myelin seath between neurons. I remember almost everything throughout my life. Not a nice thing to be honest.

[@ShonMardani]

Nothing she said makes sense. GOD please help our children, too late for us.

[@hashimbush5486]

Same Realm

[@curtcoller3632]

What would be your life without memories? It cannot exist. Let me switch around: What would be your death with memories? It cannot exist. We have to sacrifice or lose all memory in the process of dying. To paint an existence after death is therefore just an attempt to "calm" our mind, to make us think of something better than the loss of all memory. We are scared of that and "believing" helps to reduce that scare. To preach religious believe has simply two functions: 1. Make us feel better. 2. Control us. I won't go much into that 2nd reason or function. But the first one is really well meant and helpful and appreciated by many. The second - to me - is an abuse of our memory system for the personal advantage of the provider. When Moses brought the commandments his intention was to control by pointing to a higher power who gave him those tablets. To strengthen our "believe system" for his own advantage as the governing entity. We tend to forget bad experiences easier than good ones. But - not always. If an experience was strong and/or repeated no matter if it was good or bad - we will remember it often a lifetime.

[@garypuckettmuse]

You're lucky in that way. Science says bad experiences are much more vividly remembered than good. Of course peak experiences that are positive are not forgotten but for a lot of us memrories of bad experiences, especially if they were chronic and not a one-off often get worse, more exaggerated in the sense that the worst of the worst comes more into focus and the time elapsing allows us to recall those terrible memories more clearly because we have distance from them. I found PTSD to get worse and worse over time and also the "last straw" effect can happen when there have been repeated bad memories where something, maybe not all that bad even, is literally the last straw to your nervous system. That just happened to me -- someone was treating me a certain way and it was very disturbing but I knew I was not in danger but I emotionally freaked out like I would have at the most terrified moment in my memory and i literally felt the same way and relived it. As for your issues with "control" most people definitely want to be controlled, they are followers that is why everyone is on the internet trying to be exacly like everyone else. Most people complain -- teenagers mostly -- but they need supervision and structure and someone to tell them what to do and provide feedback throughout their lives. It's normal. Also Sapolsky's new book about Free Will is an interesting turn of thought -- do we have free will? Can you locate it? Is it in the same place the memories are stored (kidding around here). PS I wish people would follow the ten commandments -- I don't care who had the idea those are good commandments to follow in life. PPS a lot of people do lose their memories and it destroys one's sense of self agency -- any sort of mental malfunction will do that but otherwise they are exactly the same as they were with memories and sadly people often consider them vegetables because they are narcissistic and say "he doesn't remember ME" as if it's all about themselves. No memory? Great you can have a totally fresh new day every day without all the baggage!

[@NashPotatoesOutdoorShow]

"Your life cannot exist without memories." What do you suppose she means by that?

[@dorianmodify]

Grandparents help raise the grandchildren, thus their preservation is evolutionarily important.

[@Jill_Clarke]

Did you know insulin kept below 32 degrees causes insulin not to work? And insulin above 86 degrees stops working then if you wear an insulin pump outside for over this time you need more insulin the insulin goes bad the doctors adjust it.

[@innovativeOdyssey]

🎉

[@Jill_Clarke]

Dice... Don't forget circumstances events?

[@Jill_Clarke]

Land is DNA backwards and L for what chemical glucose?

[@yonatan2806]

"Biological mechanisms"; "memory storage" etc. all belong to the jargon of engineering. It seems as though biologists try to reverse engineer biological systems, assuming that ultimately they are just machines - a machine being any system whose state evolves according to some rule, possibly probabilistic; those things we humans are so good at making. However, in modern physics, where general covariance plays an indispensable role, there is no universal `evolution parameter', or time. Machines are therefore not native to our world, and a broader class of systems - non-machines? - should be considered. The phenomenon of memory in non-machines does not (necessarily) involve storage of information; empirically, memory is just an affinity between the behavior of a system at two distinct segments of its (extended) world-line. This even opens the possibility for `future memory'...

[@Jill_Clarke]

What about the new drugs for weight loss

[@Jill_Clarke]

Quantum physics baby!! Spirit can time travel that's why .. i

[@ericshaver937]

I just want to know why we have to see or hear so many commercial ads in our lives...

[@pingzhang7698]

Imagine that your brain cells just like a group of synchronized birds, they are flying north, you are thinking quantum mechanics; they are flying south, you are playing piano; they are flying east, you are mowing the lawn; they are flying west, you are swimming in your pool, meanwhile some birds are still in north direction, you are partially still thinking about quantum mechanics! All the sync systems are spontaneous process which obey the second law of thermodynamics, mathematical description may not solve the problem: “How does order emerge out of chaos”. In reality, all sync systems are counterintuitive: order is disorder; disorder(chaos) is order. When sync is phase locked, energy is even, and entropy reaches maximum; when sync is phase unlocked, energy distribution is uneven, and entropy decreases. Your brain cells act just like school of birds and fish are in sync. All these sync systems obey the second law of thermodynamics, which entropy reached maximum. When brain cells are in sync, without any extra energy input, the sync will last as long as your life. Sync is energy conservative system which is spontaneous process as well as our memories, imagine some events happened in your childhood. So, let it go! Sync yourself!

[@Jill_Clarke]

We are AI my love!! One day I will meet you brian

[@Jill_Clarke]

Why is it only when famous people get effects or famous people being a spokes person can make things happen

[@Najur.]

53 mins of this conversation is not enough....

[@Jill_Clarke]

I see massive recalls in new insulins!!!!

[@Jill_Clarke]

I know why the volcano 🌋 are going off and new the dormant one was going off in Iceland I knew this in July before the scientist knew?

[@Jill_Clarke]

Lol here we go!!!!!!

[@jessemontano762]

Our brains are antennae. Picking up instead generating

[@Jill_Clarke]

AI in the human is a medium a remote viewers a time line jumping

[@savage22bolt32]

When the video started, I had a Deja-vu.

[@stella_7mccarty649]

Every memory is concurred with action , if you just read and don’t write that memory just evaporate out of your storage , like a words out of your mouth, without any thoughts. You can read human mind by their actions of their words. Science are concurred with experiments and of course most with results of experiments.

[@Lima547]

Up

[@Jill_Clarke]

How many more people must suffer ?

[@hoarder66]

I think my memory is getting worse day by day. Can't really tell tho cause I can't remember

[@Jill_Clarke]

Are ya diabetic?

[@hindisheroshayari7177]

I memory act like pipe. WT type of fluid goes on it it take that form.❤

[@Jill_Clarke]

Ser people I ain't lying

[@tomstuehler5663]

Dawn armeno

[@mykrahmaan3408]

It is imaginable that memories are not purely internal, but interactive with physical (meaning non living, including plants!) environment, because I consider nature, although lacks any purpose in itself, yet permits coordinating our own purpose with reference to the environment.

[@Jill_Clarke]

What if your born with it. I am the knower with out the education artificial intelligence

[@YourTripleScorpio]

Arianna's 2nd career?

[@Jill_Clarke]

Gastroparesis and it goes after the vagal nerve!!!!!!

[@andreaadcock9218]

👍😺🤖😀

[@aminam9201]

11:30 personal identity! Evolution! why did you connected personal identity to temporary memory?! Evolution isn’t life itself or behind the evolving of life! Evolution is just a symptom of life but it’s not life itself!

[@Jill_Clarke]

Lol we remember to remember we forgot we remembered them we remember to forget

[@Jill_Clarke]

What about recalling memories that aren't yours? Like if you channel? Why aren't you investigating people who tell ya that they have memories that infact aren't them you call them delusional but no they are quantum jumpers. Ya know strong theory

[@Garcia-elf]

They’re called crazy

[@Jill_Clarke]

They are called crazy! But us quantum entanglement!

[@oliverjamito9902]

Students, Hosts, and our Beautiful will say for all the fruit flies given something to talk about! Students to whom? Don't say a word. Let ALL noises to come forth! Students will say is not you are speaking? The child "i" sitting with the AM! Dwelling within thee! Who deceiveth principalities sitting in high places will say, what is an object can move so fast and turned 360? Students will say what is AN "TWINKLE OF AN EYE"? KEEP WATCH! Hospitality will remain as long "DO NOT STIR HIM UP"! Heirs and Angels who persevere will say SOOTHE OR GRIEVE! Can make ALL THINGS NEW! THE "NEW DAY"! From WHO LOVE WITH PATIENCE,MERCY, AND GRACE. Many shared Feet resting upon the OWNER OF THE FOOTSTOOL AND the FOWL OF THE AIR WILL SAY OWNER OF "HEAVEN ABOVE"! Heirs will say to remind and comes with comfort the MILEAGE FROM THY FEET!

[@MrJdsenior]

"After we reproduce, what's the use of it?" Did you seriously ask that question? Maybe to raise your offspring.

[@Jill_Clarke]

Ya check out the Bible cain and able

[@reimannx33]

The audience seems to have fallen asleep. Her manner of speaking has a soporific effect.

[@Jill_Clarke]

I see new reconfigure of insulin

[@Jill_Clarke]

I think Matthew Perry passed from from CO2 poison due to trapped gases. Not sure if he was diabetic but his pancreas may have quit causing anesthesia type effect causing the effect for him to fall asleep and drown. Rest in peace

[@Jill_Clarke]

Not if your insulin

[@oliverjamito9902]

How's this and that? Many will say, a rat is being experimented on! Students will say WHERE ARE THEY? Who sitteth upon the lowest seat LASTS. Unto these principalities who deceiveth sitting in high places! Will say WHO IS THAT? WHO IS THAT? WHO IS THAT? HEIRS WILL SAY if ye can't recognize don't belongs unto thee! To remind unto all the Who am I? Why? Students will say what is wise of this world? Specially the True Owner comes unto thee all HIS "FEET"!

[@Jill_Clarke]

What about the 3 pregnancy that I lost on this dam insulin

[@sarahdavilio2575]

I bet it is all semantic waffling like in physics

[@Najur.]

I, again, so naively ask.... Why Mr. Beast video has more views than this one.