Introduction
Memory is a fundamental cognitive ability in human experience (Poppenk et al., 2010). Also, it allows human beings to remember past events and develop skills and knowledge. This research proposal aims to contribute to the scientific understanding of memory and significantly glimpse the contemplative beauty of human understanding, where memories give people a sense of self through their experiences. Also, it would inform scientists, scholars, and educators on memory development and consolidation, aiding in further research and developing remedies for memory disorders.
Research Problem
This research aims to unravel the role of neural plasticity. L.T.P., neurotransmitters, and hippocampus in memory formation. Thus, this research will probe the complex connection between brain structures, neural systems, and biological processes that play a major role in the making and consolidating of memories. This research aims to ascertain the neural mechanism of memory development and consolidation.
Hypothesis
Heightened long-term potentiation in the hippocampus expedites memory formation and consolidation. This research examines whether enhanced L.T.P. significantly steers more vigorous and lasting memory traces. This hypothesis proposes that a robust synaptic relation, expedited by heightened L.T.P., interjected due to memories merging from short-term to long-term storage. Therefore, examining the connection between L.T.P. levels and memory functioning and retention and the role of L.T.P. in the memory process develops new paths for developing medicinal interventions to improve memory and handle memory-related disorders.
Research Questions
- How do the hippocampus and L.T.P. interject to memory’s initial encoding and consolidation?
- How do sleep patterns impact memory consolidation?
- What effects of age-related changes impact brain functioning on memory formation?
- How do emotional experiences influence the neural mechanism of memory formation?
Literature Review
Various research topics were shared based on the literature review that analyzes six research papers regarding the neural mechanism of memory formation. The topic identified is the hippocampus and memory consolidation, long-term potentiation, the role of sleep, aging, and memory, and the role of neurotransmitters.
Hippocampus and Memory Consolidation
The role of the hippocampus in memory solidification is among the major themes found in numerous literature about memory consolidation. The hippocampus is an integral part of the human brain and is essential to memory development. Axmacher et al. (2006) suggested that the hippocampus plays a significant role in merging short-term and long-term memories, which enables the transfer of experiences to other brain parts for undying storage. Their study emphasizes the role of the hippocampal in stimulating L.T.P., which plays a critical role in developing and enhancing memory. Most notably, researchers found that after the initial experience, memories become less dependent on the hippocampus and depend on the neocortex (Seyedabadi et al., 2014). This claim suggests hippocampus is responsible for temporarily holding information for a short period.
Long-Term Potentiation (L.T.P.)
Long-term potentiation is a process that involves the resolute coagulating of synapses that leads to a long-term surge in signal broadcast between neurons. Schlichting & Preston (2015) suggest that L.T.P. plays a critical role in memory formation by establishing the associations between neurons when they are often stimulated simultaneously. According to this claim, L.T.P. enables learning and aids in making long-term memories. Research demonstrates that L.T.P. states how the brain responds to experience and is the mechanism that supports learning and memory among human beings (Arai et al.,2009). This study demonstrates that L.T.P. strengthens synaptic connections between neurons, improving neural communication. The L.T.P. process entails NMDA receptors which play a significant role in L.T.P. initiation. Thus NMDA receptors allow the calcium ions to get into neurons, starting a surge of biochemical events.
This literature is helpful in this research to examine the role of L.T.P. in memory by providing the needed insight in answering the research question.
Aging and Memory
Sander et al. (2021) state that aging leads to cognitive skills and memory performance changes. Scientist suggests that aging is correlated to a decline in memory abilities which is affected by decreased blood flow to the brain which weakens memory functioning. Further, the authors state that the hippocampus region deteriorates with age, thus lowering its function of creating and retrieving memories. Some researchers claim aging affects memory as hormones and proteins that protect and repair brain cells and stimulate neural growth weaken with age. These studies suggest that age is a critical factor in memory-related due to a decline in brain activity. This literature would provide helpful information in the research to answer how age affects memory among human beings.
Role of Sleep
Most researchers claim that sleep plays a vital role in memory consolidation. Researchers suggest that during the non-rapid eye movement stages of sleep, memories are consolidated with the process involving the movement of memories from the hippocampus to the neocortex, and sleep helps in memory retention and improves recall (Peigneux et al., 2001). Stickgold (2013) claims that sleep provides emotional memory as emotions are established with other memories, improving memory performance. People sleeping after the study were found to have higher retention than those who were awake. Further, the authors claim that during sleep, the necessary information is removed weak synapses are erased.
Role of Neurotransmitters
Researchers have recognized the role of neurotransmitters in their role of memory development. Gamma, glutamate, serotine, and acetylcholine neurotransmitters are essential in memory development (Squire et al., 2015). The sensory organs and neural networks play an important role in memory processes in the brain. According to Seyedabadi et al. (2014), acetylcholine is released by the hippocampus, which is vital in enhancing memory performance. At the same time, some authors claim glutamate plays a vital role in synaptic plasticity and aids L.T.P. in its major role in memory formation (Squire et al., 2015).
Methods
This proposal would entail mixed methodology, which entails qualitative and quantitative methodology for the comprehensive data collection (Ivankova & Wingo, 2018). The study would involve fifty randomly selected participants to ensure no prejudice during selection (Kazimierczuk et al., 2009). The respondents would entail 50% and 50% female, and the age of respondents would be 10-80 years. Data would be collected through naturalistic observation, where the respondents would be observed how they react under various situations. The researcher will gain information on the participants’ actions under different circumstances through this process. The researcher will observe the participants frequently to examine their reactions and behavior.
Also, the research would be conducted through a survey process where the participants would be required to fill out an online survey with open-ended questions and other questions that would help collect quantitative data from the research. The survey will entail a mixed questionnaire with two pages of open-ended and close-ended questions to be filled out within seven days. The data collected will be analyzed through thematic analysis and descriptive analysis. Qualitative data collected by naturalistic observation would be analyzed through a thematic analysis, where a central theme would be identified. At the same time, quantitative data would be analyzed using SPSS. Various variables like age, sleep patterns, and emotional experiences would be examined to certify their relations.
Ethical Consideration
This study would entail taking various ethical considerations of the research. First, the research was based on voluntary participation, as the respondents must sign a consent form agreeing to their free will to engage in the study (Walker, 2007). Also, the participants would be informed about free participation, where they would be required to leave the study at any research stage freely. Secondly, the data obtained from each participant was to be labeled in the alphabet to ensure that their privacy would prevail. This strategy would ensure that no participant would be linked with any data, thus protecting their privacy. Walker (2007) states that the information would be confidential by ensuring that data would be stored safely in encrypted computer databases equipped with security features to ensure that third parties do not interfere with the data. This strategy would ensure that the participant’s data is safe. Also, the data would be labeled with alphabets and symbols, ensuring that the participant’s identity cannot be determined. Fourthly, throughout the research, the respondents’ activities would be safe. There will be little or no physical, social, psychological, or other types of danger in the research, as all the activities will ensure the safety of the respondents. This strategy would ensure that all the participants are safe during the research. Finally, the research results will be communicated to all participants after two weeks through email, and the work will be free from plagiarism as it is original, and where data taken from another author will be credited to them.
Hypothesis Verification
The surveying and observational techniques would help to identify the connection between synaptic relation, L.T.P, and memory formation supported by the research question about how L.T.P and hippocampus lead to consolidation of memories. Also, participants must conduct certain activities to ascertain how memory formation relates to age by answering the research question of how age affects memory formation. Furthermore, the study would undertake a statistical analysis to determine whether L.T.P enhances memory formation. Finally, for the validity of the results, experiments would be repeated multiple times, leading to valid results.
Validity
The survey questions will be crafted to ensure that aspects of memory are captured, such as recalling, recognition, and learning. Also, the observation would be merited to observe the participant’s memory without prejudice for a balanced response. Furthermore, the participants would entail blacks, Indians, white and Chinese, with each gender having an equal representation. Finally, the survey questions would be reviewed by experts in memory research to ascertain the validity of the survey process.
Summary
The proposed study on the neural mechanism of memory formation shows an essential aspect critical for advancing the comprehension of human cognition and brain functioning. Various authors have examined this topic where they found memory relates to sleep, old age leads to memory dysfunctioning, and the role of L.T.P. Likewise; they identified the role of various neurotransmitters in memory formation and the role of the hippocampus and memory consolidation.
The study will adopt a mixed methodology to ensure comprehensive data collection through observation and surveying, enabling an all-inclusive exploration of memory processes at numerous levels of analysis. Also, the collected data will be analyzed through thematic and descriptive analysis. Various themes relating to the topic would be expected, like the role of neurotransmitters, age and memory, and long-term potentiation. Also, there would be examining how various variables such as age and sleep are correlated to memory formation. This study would entail 50 participants of ages 10-80 years who will sign a consent form and will have free choice to leave the study at any time. Various ethical considerations will be undertaken through ensuring data is confidential, ensuring the safety of the participants, and results will be communicated to participants. Memory is a fundamental aspect of human lives as it outlines human understanding and helps in decision-making and interaction with the world. Thus, there is a need for profound studies to examine the neural mechanism of memory development and also help contribute significantly to the knowledge and proficiency and a comprehensive knowledge of memory development and its basic neural mechanisms.
References
Arai, J. A., Li, S., Hartley, D. M., & Feig, L. A. (2009). Transgenerational rescue of a genetic defect in long-term potentiation and memory formation by juvenile enrichment. Journal of Neuroscience, 29(5), 1496–1502. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5057-08.2009
Ivankova, N., & Wingo, N. (2018). Applying mixed methods in action research: Methodological potentials and advantages. American Behavioral Scientist, 62(7), 978-997. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642187726
Kazimierczuk, K., Zawadzka, A., & Koźmiński, W. (2009). Narrow peaks and high dimensionalities: exploiting the advantages of random sampling. Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 197(2), 219-228. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2009.01.003
Peigneux, P., Laureys, S., Delbeuck, X., & Maquet, P. (2001). Sleeping brain, learning brain. The role of sleep for memory systems. Neuroreport, 12(18), A111-A124. DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200112210-00001
Poppenk, J., McIntosh, A. R., Craik, F. I., & Moscovitch, M. (2010). Past experience modulates the neural mechanisms of episodic memory formation. Journal of Neuroscience, 30(13), 4707–4716. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5466-09.2010
Sander, M. C., Fandakova, Y., & Werkle-Bergner, M. (2021, August). Effects of age differences in memory formation on neural mechanisms of consolidation and retrieval. In Seminars in cell & developmental biology (Vol. 116, pp. 135-145). Academic Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.02.005
Schlichting, M. L., & Preston, A. R. (2015). Memory integration: neural mechanisms and implications for behavior. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2014.07.005
Seyedabadi, M., Fakhfouri, G., Ramezani, V., Mehr, S. E., & Rahimian, R. (2014). The role of serotonin in memory: interactions with neurotransmitters and downstream signaling. Experimental Brain Research, pp. 232, 723–738. DOI:10.1007/s00221-013-3818-4
Squire, L. R., Genzel, L., Wixted, J. T., & Morris, R. G. (2015). Memory consolidation. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 7(8), a021766. DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a021766
Stickgold, R. (2013). Parsing the role of sleep in memory processing. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 23(5), 847–853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2013.04.002
Walker, W. (2007). Ethical considerations in phenomenological research. Nurse Researcher, 14(3):36–45. DOI: 10.7748/nr2007.04.14.3.36.c6031
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