Memory

The ability to remember. Memory is usually thought of as having 3 stages: registration, storage, and recall. In registration, information is perceived, understood, and stored in short-term memory. Unless they are constantly repeated, the contents of short-term memory are lost in minutes. In retention, important information is transferred into long-term memory and stored. Recall involves bringing information into the conscious mind at will. Many factors determine how well something is remembered, including its familiarity and how much attention has been paid to it. It is not known where in the brain the memory process takes place. However, the temporal lobe and limbic system may be involved. The mechanisms for storing memory are also unknown. Most memory disturbances are due to failure at the retention or recall stage (see amnesia). In some cases, the problem occurs at the registration stage. Some people with temporal lobe epilepsy have uncontrollable flashbacks of distant past events. The most common memory disorder is the normal difficulty in recall that develops with age. More severe loss of memory may be an early symptom of dementia.