<p>The brain structure for memory, association, learning and thinking works more like a network of weighted, linked nodes.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>in machine learning and related fields, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computational models inspired by an animal's central nervous systems (in particular the brain)
  [...]
  Artificial neural networks are generally presented as systems of interconnected "neurons" which can compute values from inputs, and are capable of machine learning as well as pattern recognition thanks to their adaptive nature.
  [...]
  For example, a neural network for handwriting recognition is defined by a set of input neurons which may be activated by the pixels of an input image. After being weighted and transformed by a function (determined by the network's designer), the activations of these neurons are then passed on to other neurons. This process is repeated until finally, an output neuron is activated. This determines which character was read.
  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_neural_network" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_neural_network</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-20T12:35:24.070Z
so for example how long does it take for brain to search throw data it has already saved ? how long does it take to save data (insert) ? what about deleting data ?
KFkf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-21T01:28:14.163Z
From personal experiments, details of today's events might appear in my dreams up to 7 days later. Typically it is 2-3 days. I would assume that at this point the information is persistently stored.
Alex Stone
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-20T12:24:56.597Z
2014-11-20T12:24:56.597Z
Berit Larsen
<p>Memory in the brain isn't super-well understood, so going to the level of "data-structures" isn't really possible with purely biological models. Not that a purely biolgocial description would be very useful anyways. When people ask how the brain works, they typically don't want to be told "molecule A interacts with molecule B, which triggers molecule C".</p>

<p>Since you're coming from computer science, I am going to assume that you're probably more interested in models or the "data-structures" (how to structure data, like a list or a tree) we assign to a brain. One way to build biologically plausible brain models is with the Neurological Engineering Framework (NEF) and there's been a couple data structures based on this that have been used. You can see more detail on this in my other answer "<a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/8438/how-is-memory-accounted-for-in-the-nef">How is memory accounted for in the NEF?</a>"</p>

<p>However, it's important to note that the NEF is a framework, thus much work is being done on implementing more complex data structures than the ones mentioned in that question. In particular, Aaron Voekler has implemented a <a href="http://compneuro.uwaterloo.ca/files/publications/voelker.2014a.pdf" rel="nofollow">dynamic hetero-associative</a> memory using the framework, which functions somewhat in the same manner as a hash table.</p>

<p>I hope this answer gives you a good starting point for further investigation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-24T20:00:17.720Z
I'm engineering student too but I'm actually curious about the biological aspect (like which cells stores some information and how). Don't forget there will be users coming from google that are not programmers.
Tomáš Zato
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-25T15:10:54.483Z
@TomášZato the biological aspect is covered by the NEF. I've tried to fix the CS bias as well.
Seanny123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-20T17:25:12.837Z
2014-11-25T15:12:19.357Z
2014-11-25T15:12:19.357Z
Seanny123
<p>As a computer science undergraduate I was wondering if there are any special data structures used by the brain to save data?</p>

<p>I am especially interested in the hash tables data structure. If data are saved in this type of data structure then you could search, insert and delete them in a short time no matter the size of the data (or technically speaking in O(1)).    </p>

<p>I was wondering if the brain works in the same way or not?  And if it does, how does it?</p>

<memory><long-term-memory><short-term-memory>
What is the data structure used by the brain to store data?
KFkf
# What is the data structure used by the brain to store data?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-20)

As a computer science undergraduate I was wondering if there are any special data structures used by the brain to save data?

I am especially interested in the hash tables data structure. If data are saved in this type of data structure then you could search, insert and delete them in a short time no matter the size of the data (or technically speaking in O(1)).

I was wondering if the brain works in the same way or not? And if it does, how does it?

**Tags:** memory, long-term-memory, short-term-memory


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-11-20. Score: 4

Memory in the brain isn't super-well understood, so going to the level of "data-structures" isn't really possible with purely biological models. Not that a purely biolgocial description would be very useful anyways. When people ask how the brain works, they typically don't want to be told "molecule A interacts with molecule B, which triggers molecule C".

Since you're coming from computer science, I am going to assume that you're probably more interested in models or the "data-structures" (how to structure data, like a list or a tree) we assign to a brain. One way to build biologically plausible brain models is with the Neurological Engineering Framework (NEF) and there's been a couple data structures based on this that have been used. You can see more detail on this in my other answer "[How is memory accounted for in the NEF?](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/8438/how-is-memory-accounted-for-in-the-nef)"

However, it's important to note that the NEF is a framework, thus much work is being done on implementing more complex data structures than the ones mentioned in that question. In particular, Aaron Voekler has implemented a [dynamic hetero-associative](http://compneuro.uwaterloo.ca/files/publications/voelker.2014a.pdf) memory using the framework, which functions somewhat in the same manner as a hash table.

I hope this answer gives you a good starting point for further investigation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I'm engineering student too but I'm actually curious about the biological aspect (like which cells stores some information and how). Don't forget there will be users coming from google that are not programmers.  
> **username_3**: @TomášZato the biological aspect is covered by the NEF. I've tried to fix the CS bias as well.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-11-20. Score: 3

The brain structure for memory, association, learning and thinking works more like a network of weighted, linked nodes.

> in machine learning and related fields, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computational models inspired by an animal's central nervous systems (in particular the brain)
> [...]
> Artificial neural networks are generally presented as systems of interconnected "neurons" which can compute values from inputs, and are capable of machine learning as well as pattern recognition thanks to their adaptive nature.
> [...]
> For example, a neural network for handwriting recognition is defined by a set of input neurons which may be activated by the pixels of an input image. After being weighted and transformed by a function (determined by the network's designer), the activations of these neurons are then passed on to other neurons. This process is repeated until finally, an output neuron is activated. This determines which character was read.
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_neural_network>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: so for example how long does it take for brain to search throw data it has already saved ? how long does it take to save data (insert) ? what about deleting data ?  
> **username_2**: From personal experiments, details of today's events might appear in my dreams up to 7 days later. Typically it is 2-3 days. I would assume that at this point the information is persistently stored.  

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