Engram

Engram is a term coined by the German biologist Richard Semon to refer to the physical trace of a memory in the brain. It is a hypothetical change in neural tissue postulated to account for the existence of memory.

Definition

An engram is a hypothetical permanent change in the brain accounting for the existence of memory; a memory trace. It is a theoretical construct in the biology of memory that was postulated to explain the means through which memory could be stored and retrieved in the brain.

History

The concept of the engram was introduced to neuroscience by Richard Semon, a German zoologist and biologist. Semon used the term to describe the physical substrate of long-term memory, believing that such memories were relatively permanent and not easily disrupted.

Theoretical Framework

The engram is thought to be a biochemical change (possibly an RNA molecule) in the neuron that is induced by the learning process. The engram serves as a structural trace of memory, which can be accessed when the memory is to be used. The exact nature and location of the engram within the brain is a topic of ongoing research.

Research

Research into the engram has been conducted in various fields, including neuroscience, psychology, and biology. While the exact nature and location of the engram remain unknown, research has suggested that the engram may be distributed across multiple brain regions, and may involve changes in synaptic strength and connectivity.

See Also

• Memory
• Neuroscience
• Richard Semon
• RNA