What is Memory?

Source: AARP.org | | April 10, 2006

Memory, the ability to retain information or to recover information about previous experiences, is a function of the brain. When we remember something, a process takes place in which our brains recover and reconstruct information about things we've done or learned.

This section explains types of memories and how memory changes.

Types of Memories

You may hear people refer to two types of memory: short-term and long-term. Short term is memory of recent knowledge and happenings, while long-term memory helps us recall events and knowledge from our pasts.

Our brains also seem to have different, overlapping systems for the two primary types of memories:

Explicit memories (also called declarative memories) are those you can recall consciously and describe verbally, such as facts, people, and places you encounter daily.
Implicit memory (also called non-declarative memory) describes our capacity for learning skills and procedures, including those used when playing golf or dancing.

How Memory Changes

Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten what you went in for? Searched for keys that mysteriously disappeared? Or been unable to recall the name of someone you know?

These moments of forgetfulness happen to everyone. After all, remembering and forgetting are perfectly normal parts of everyday life.

But as we grow older, they can make us feel like we're losing our edge or even cause us to worry about Alzheimer's disease—the progressive dementia that affects four million Americans.

Memory consists of a series of processes that begin when we are exposed to new information. Our brains register, encode, and—in the right conditions—store this information for later use.

Many people experience changes in cognitive abilities (memory and other intellectual functions) as they age. But research shows that how big a change varies from person to person. Scientists have also found that we can take actions to help prevent memory loss and keep our brains healthy as we age.