Pattern Completion: How One Word Connects All The Dots

Imagine, your mom enters the living room. She asks what I would like for lunch for school. Immediately I remember my homework. How does that happen? How does one innocent word lead to a sudden action. This process is called pattern completion. 

The brain parts that are involved in this process are Medial temporal lobe, the general area of the brain where memories are kept, hippocampus, the part of the brain that connects all the parts, Entorhinal Cortex, the doorway of the brain that lets all the information enter, Prefrontal Cortex, the front part of the brain which shines the spotlight on what you are thinking of. 

Now, since we have explored what areas are involved, lets take a look at the actual process. Firstly, physical groups of brain cells hold memories. Then the brain locks these into connections. This is locked by a chemical called Glutamate. Then when this process occurs, when hearing something like school influences you to remember a memory, it then drags out the whole memory with it. That is why I could remember my homework when my mom mentioned school. 

It is astonishing to see how one sight or sound can allow our brains to remember things instantly. This process is how athletes can remember when to react, as it becomes a habit like muscle memory. 

Our brains are not just an ordinary muscle, they are our source to entertainment, education, and life. We must appreciate the work of our brain as it can achieve wonders. `