Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

System of Memory01:23

System of Memory

9.0K
Memory is categorized into three major systems: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). These systems differ in their capacity and the duration for which they can hold information. Sensory memory captures raw sensory input from the environment, holding it for just a few seconds or less. For example, on hearing a brief, loud sound, like a car horn honking, the sound seems to linger in the mind for a moment even after it stops. This is an instance of sensory memory...
9.0K
Storage01:23

Storage

502
A schema is a mental framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information. Schemata, formed from previous experiences, influence how we process new information: how we encode it, the inferences we make, and how we retrieve it. For instance, a schema for what a typical classroom looks like might include desks, a teacher's desk, a whiteboard, and students in such an environment. This expectation helps us quickly understand and navigate new classrooms without needing to analyze...
502
Understanding Memory01:19

Understanding Memory

1.6K
Memory is the retention of information or experiences over time, facilitated through three main processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process of inputting information into the memory system. For instance, when listening to a lecture, watching a play, reading a book, or having a conversation, the brain is actively encoding information. This initial stage involves transforming sensory input into a form that can be processed and stored by the brain. Various factors, such as...
1.6K
Chunking01:12

Chunking

572
Chunking is a powerful cognitive technique that improves short-term memory retention by organizing information into smaller, more manageable units. The brain, limited by working memory capacity, can more easily process and store information when it is divided into "chunks" rather than presented as discrete, unrelated elements. Chunking is especially useful when dealing with large amounts of information, such as numerical sequences, words, or complex ideas.
The principle behind chunking...
572
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

2.2K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
2.2K
Mnemonic Devices01:23

Mnemonic Devices

621
Mnemonic devices are cognitive tools that facilitate memory retention by linking new information to familiar patterns or organizational strategies. These techniques are beneficial for remembering complex or lengthy sets of information by simplifying and structuring them in easily retrievable ways.
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...
621

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Disruption of major Ptchd1 isoforms causes autistic traits in social behavior and communication.

Molecular psychiatry·2026
Same author

Temporally gated offline engram ensemble reverberation in the lateral amygdala is required for fear memory consolidation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Microglia-dependent regulation of fear memory extinction.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

Neurogenesis-dependent transformation of hippocampal memory traces during systems consolidation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Systems consolidation reorganizes hippocampal engram circuitry.

Nature·2025
Same author

On role models and Joe LeDoux.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)·2024
Same journal

Endogenous peptide derived from c-Cbl-associated protein counteracts its inhibitory effect on enteric neural crest cell colonization in Hirschsprung disease.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Drowsiness alters the neural dynamics but not the core computations of multisensory integration.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same journal

A Matter of Parameters: Tailored Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Enhances Cortico-Thalamo-Cortical Circuit Resonance.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Proactive visual and motor prioritization differentially scale with cue reliability.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Erratum: Yao et al., "Estrogen Regulates Bcl-w and Bim Expression: Role in Protection against β-Amyloid Peptide-Induced Neuronal Death".

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Erratum: L'Episcopo et al., "Plasticity of Subventricular Zone Neuroprogenitors in MPTP (1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine) Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease Involves Cross Talk between Inflammatory and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways: Functional Consequences for Neuroprotection and Repair".

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Gradient Echo Quantum Memory in Warm Atomic Vapor
10:00

Gradient Echo Quantum Memory in Warm Atomic Vapor

Published on: November 11, 2013

13.1K

Engrams and Memory: My Scientific "Eras Tour".

Sheena A Josselyn1,2

  • 1Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada sheena.josselyn@sickkids.ca.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|April 22, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Memories form through neuronal competition within existing circuits, not a blank slate. This competition is influenced by neuron excitability and recent activity, shaping engram formation over time.

Keywords:
amygdalachemogeneticsengramfearlearningmemoryneuronal ensembleoptogeneticsreward-learning

More Related Videos

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion
15:57

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion

Published on: May 4, 2011

15.9K
Assembly and Characterization of Biomolecular Memristors Consisting of Ion Channel-doped Lipid Membranes
08:07

Assembly and Characterization of Biomolecular Memristors Consisting of Ion Channel-doped Lipid Membranes

Published on: March 9, 2019

7.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Gradient Echo Quantum Memory in Warm Atomic Vapor
10:00

Gradient Echo Quantum Memory in Warm Atomic Vapor

Published on: November 11, 2013

13.1K
Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion
15:57

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion

Published on: May 4, 2011

15.9K
Assembly and Characterization of Biomolecular Memristors Consisting of Ion Channel-doped Lipid Membranes
08:07

Assembly and Characterization of Biomolecular Memristors Consisting of Ion Channel-doped Lipid Membranes

Published on: March 9, 2019

7.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Memories are encoded by neuronal ensembles called engrams.
  • Early research focused on molecular factors like CREB in memory enhancement.
  • A central hypothesis emerged: neurons compete for engram inclusion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the evolution of engram research.
  • To highlight the role of neuronal competition in memory encoding.
  • To connect historical findings with modern experimental approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical studies on CREB and memory.
  • Analysis of research on neuronal excitability and activity.
  • Discussion of modern techniques for identifying and manipulating neuronal ensembles.

Main Results:

  • Engram formation is influenced by neuronal competition.
  • Intrinsic excitability and recent activity modulate this competition.
  • Memory is an emergent property of pre-existing neural circuits.

Conclusions:

  • Engrams are not formed on a blank slate.
  • Competitive neuronal interactions shape memory encoding.
  • Understanding engrams requires integrating historical and contemporary research.