1. a hypothetical permanent change in the brain accounting for the existence of memory; a memory trace
Usage: psychology; neuroscience

Examples

• Scientists study engrams to understand how memories are stored in the brain.
• The formation of an engram involves changes in neural connections.
• Researchers are trying to locate specific engrams associated with different memories.
• The concept of the engram has been central to memory research for decades.
• Modern neuroscience techniques allow scientists to observe engram formation in real time.
• Each engram represents a physical trace of a learned experience.