We learned from our basic science class that it is our neocortex that is responsible for language, sensory perception, and cognitive functions such as thinking, planning, reasoning, and daydreaming about ourselves making out with our celebrity crush. We were also taught that the cerebellum is responsible for coordinating movements, balance, posture, and speech. However, in this 21st century, researchers discovered that the cerebellum has a huge role in cognitive functions and can actually store memories. In fact, our cerebellum contains four times more neurons than the neocortex.
Anyway, there are two types of memories that our brain keeps. These are short-term and long-term memory. Short-term memory, as its name implies, stores small amounts of information within a short period of time. Whereas long-term memory is of course the opposite of short-term. It keeps information for a long period of time, sometimes a lifetime. And it has two types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory contains events that happened to you and general facts and information. While implicit memory stores motor skills such as playing guitar, biking, and swimming. However, it takes a lot of deliberate practice and repetition to store those newly acquired skills in *basal ganglia and cerebellum. Hence, even when we stop doing that particular activity for a long time, we could retrieve that memory when we suddenly attempt to do that activity again. We could still remember to ride a bike, strum the guitar, or stroke in the water even when we don't do those things after a couple of years.
Knowing that the cerebellum can do cognitive functions indicates that every part of our brain is an instrument and the action or expected result is an orchestra. Meaning, every part of the brain has its own functionalities but needs to work together to make something happen or keep memories. Also, this shows we do not yet fully know the complete roles of each part of the brain. Perhaps, in the future, scientists might find out that we could actually speak telepathically and bend metallic spoons.
*control voluntary and eye movements, learning procedures for routine behaviors or "habits", and cognitive-emotional functions.
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Fun Facts! II
RandomAs you can see, it is a continuation of Fun Facts which contains amazing, mind-boggling, and seemingly odd science facts that can widen your eyes and mouth, and makes you question about life, and perhaps change the way you view life, the world, the...
