Memories are stored and retrieved in the brain through a complex process involving various regions and networks. When we experience something, sensory information is initially processed in the sensory areas of the brain. This information is then passed on to the hippocampus, a region of the brain crucial for the formation of new memories.

The hippocampus helps to consolidate and store the memory, integrating it into existing networks of knowledge and experiences in the brain. Over time, memories may become more stable and move to other regions of the brain for long-term storage, such as the prefrontal cortex or the amygdala.

When we want to retrieve a memory, the brain reconstructs the memory by activating the same neural pathways and connections that were formed when the memory was initially encoded. This process may be influenced by various factors, such as the emotional significance of the memory, the context in which it was encoded, and the strength of the connections between neurons involved in the memory trace.

Overall, memory storage and retrieval are complex processes that involve multiple brain regions and networks working together to encode, store, and retrieve information from our past experiences.