Engram:
An engram refers to the hypothetical physical or biochemical changes in the brain that are thought to be the basis of memory. It is a neurological trace that represents the storage of information or experiences in the brain. [Psychology.tips]
For usage, I shan’t cite The Ultimate Computer from the original Star Trek series, but rather “Your forgotten memories continue to influence the choices you make,” Chris Simms, NewScientist (28 June 2025, paywall):
Our memories can be defined in different ways. One is based on what people report, such as recalling what they ate for dinner last night or what happened on their seventh birthday. Another way is in terms of an enduring pattern or circuit of cells and connections in the brain, known as an engram, that constitutes the biological representation of a remembered experience.
It has been thought by many researchers that when you forget something, the engram related to that memory vanishes. However, research in mice suggests that forgotten memories can persist, they just can’t be consciously recalled.
Fascinating.
