What is memory?

Abstract

Memory is a theoretical construct that may explain current behavior by reference to events that have happened or will happen in the future. Memory may be conceived as a complex, dynamic, recategorising and interactive process based on actual sensory-motor experiences and manifests itself in the behavior of an organism. Repetition in learning is a prerequisite for the formation of accurate and long-lasting memory. Practice is most effective when widely distributed over time, rather than when closely spaced or massed. But even after efficient learning, most memories dissipate with time unless frequently used (Spear, 1978; Spear & Riccio, 1994). Memory always has a subjective and an objective side. The subjective side is observed by the individual’s history (developmental perspective). The objective side is noted by the neural patterns generated by the sensory-motor interactions with the environment. It has been well established by many memory researchers that memory is not a unitary function. This notion is supported by evidence that different brain lesions in patients produce highly specific changes in some aspects of memory functions while sparing other ones. Research has attempted to delineate patterns of impaired and spared memory functions in order to assess whether there is a particular class of processing system that is not functioning while other systems function normally.