Memory and the human brain

There are four parts to the human brain, the first is called the reptilian brain or brain stem. We share this primitive brain with reptiles and it deals with basic instincts such as our breathing and heartbeat. It also deals with fight or flight.
The second part of the brain is called the mid or mammalian brain, which is the brain we share with mammals. This is our emotional brain and deals with bonding and memories. This part of the brain is also vital for our learning.
The third part is the two sided cerebral cortex, which is our thinking and communicating brain. This part of the brain is split into two half's, the left side deals with numbers, math, logic and words. While the right side deals with music, pictures, imagination and rhyme. When you use both sides of the brain together you learn much faster.
The final part of the brain is called the cerebellum or little brain. This part deals with muscle memory and is vital for storing memories linked to action such as swinging a bat. It is also the balancing brain and grows cells after birth.

There are 100 billion cells in the human brain and each one of these cells can grow up to 20,000 dendrites. Dendrites are what helps us to recall stored information and memories.

Here is a diagram of a brain cell

There are three types of memory. There is the sensory memory, the short term memory and the long term memory.
The sensory memory is the initial start of storing information, it only holds the information for a short time however and then passes it to your short term memory.
Your short term memory can hold about six or seven items at a time but unless you plan on rehearsing the information it will be forgotten in around thirty seconds. Any information which does get remembered is passed to the long term memory.
This memory is like a storage system which can hold millions of pieces of data. The long term memory can be split up into three parts, one is your visual memory, one is your auditory memory and the last is your motor memory.

It is said that you remember the first and last thing you hear. This is called the primary recency effect. We remember things when we go over them several times or when it is heard several times, this is called repetition. We also remember the unusual.

When we learn, we will learn more if we use more of our senses, this makes it easier for us to recall the information, also if you act on the information it will be even easier to remember. The brain needs nourishment and plenty of oxygen to speed messages around your body.

This is a website I found which has some good information about memories.