Form of memory

From the beginning of life, our brains are able to respond to experience by altering the connections among neurons, the basic building blocks of the brain. These connections constitute the structure of the brain, and are believed to be a powerful way in which the brain comes to remember experience. Brain structure shapes brain function. In turn, brain function creates the mind. Although genetic information also determines fundamental aspects of brain anatomy, our experiences are what create the unique connections and model the basic structure of each individual's brain. In this manner, our experiences directly shape the structure of the brain and thus create the mind that define who we are.

...... The two major ways connections are made are the two forms of memory: implicit and explicit. Implicit memory results in the creation of the particular circuits of the brain that are responsible for generating emotions, behavioral responses, perception, and probably the encoding of bodily sensations. Implicit memory is a form of early nonverbal memory that is present at birth and continues throughout the life span. Another important aspect of implicit memory is something called mental models. Through mental models our minds create generalizations of repeated experiences. ...... Our attachment relationships affect how we see others and how we see ourselves. Through repeated experiences with our attachment figures, our mind creates models that affect our view of both others and ourselves. ...... these models create a filter that patterns the way we channel our perceptions and construct our responses to the world. Through these filtering models we develop characteristics ways of seeing and being.

The fascinating feature of implicit memory is that when it is retrieved it lacks an internal sensation that something is being "recalled" and the individual is not even aware that this internal experience is being generated from something from the past. Thus, emotions, behaviors, bodily sensations, perceptual interpretations, and the bias of particular non conscious mental models may influence our present experience (both perception and behavior) without our having any realization that we are being shaped by the past. What is particularly amazing is that our brains can encode implicit memory without the route of conscious attention. This means the we can encode elements into simplicity memory without ever needing to consciously attain to them. 

The prefrontal cortex is extremely important for a wide range of processes, including autobiographical memory, self-awareness, response flexibility, hindsight, midnight, and the regulation of emotions. These are the very processes that are shaped by attachment. The development of the prefrontal cortex appears to be profoundly influenced by interpersonal experiences. This is why our early relationships have such a significant impact on our lives. However, this important integrating part of the brain many also continue to develop throughout the life span, so we continue to have the possibility for growth and change.

Our automatic adaptations to these earlier experiences then become "who we are" and our life story becomes written for us, not by us. ...... When unresolved issues are writing our life story, we are not our own autobiographers; we are merely recorders of how the past continues, often without our awareness, to intrude upon our present experience and shape our future directions. ...... We often try to control our children's feelings and behavior when actually it is our own internal experience that is triggering our upset feelings about their behavior.