Page 185 - PPL-engelsk 2025

Human Performance

2.7 Basic flight psychology (Menneskelig ydeevne 4 - 2 videoer)

2.7.1 Memory

Throughout life, the brain shapes, retrieves, and filters our memories while

fleeting electrochemical connections formed between brain cells help our "gray

matter" retain the thoughts, skills, experiences, and knowledge we acquire.

2.7.1.1 How the brain learns and remembers

Our brain cells change every time we learn or experience something new. The
change that occurs from an experience will be reflected in our behavior.

The saying "a burnt child dreads the fire" illustrates this. For example, if

someone has walked down a dark street and seen a group of suspicious people

hanging around the street corner, they will automatically avoid that street the

next time.

An experience, a rich environment of people, colors, music, sounds, books,

smells, etc., can create learning. Neuroscientists have demonstrated through

laboratory experiments that when rats live with lots of toys, they have a far

greater number of interconnected brain cells than their lonely counterparts

living without stimuli.

When a brain cell is activated, it does so through the release of chemical

substances in the synapses called neurotransmitters, which make them more

efficient. Research has shown that brain cells (neurons) that are "kept in shape"

have more connections, more synapses. To form a memory, brain cells must

create new synaptic links and protein molecules.

Today, scientists do not perceive memory as a location in the brain, but rather

as a process that is inseparably linked with retrieval – with "remembering." The

greatest trigger for remembering is strong associations/connections, especially

emotions.

Flight Theory PPL(A)(UL)/LAPL Henning Andersen, Midtjysk Flyveskole© 2025 185