This selection of reviews gives an up-to-date picture of memory research. Great progress has been made in identifying the memory trace at the molecular and cellular level and individual reviews address the major mechanisms by which changes in synaptic strength can persist. Exciting research at the systems level is also reviewed including the growing importance of changes in inhibitory interneurons and how they play a role in memory formation. Finally, reviews present cognitive and neurobiological models of human memory that explain, characterize and organize the act of memory within a coherent framework. Provides an unique overview that covers all perspectives and methodological approaches to memory Broad coverage of memory research from molecular to human studies in one source Up-to-date reviews give the latest important ideas on memory formation

The mnemonic arts and the idea of a universal language that would capture the essence of all things were originally associated with cryptology, mysticism, and other occult practices. And it is commonly held that these enigmatic efforts were abandoned with the development of formal logic in the seventeenth century and the beginning of the modern era. In his distinguished book, Logic and the Art of Memory Italian philosopher and historian Paolo Rossi argues that this view is belied by an examination of the history of the idea of a universal language. Based on comprehensive analyses of original texts, Rossi traces the development of this idea from late medieval thinkers such as Ramon Lull through Bruno, Bacon, Descartes, and finally Leibniz in the seventeenth century. The search for a symbolic mode of communication that would be intelligible to everyone was not a mere vestige of magical thinking and occult sciences, but a fundamental component of Renaissance and Enlightenment thought. Seen from this perspective, modern science and combinatorial logic represent not a break from the past but rather its full maturity. Available for the first time in English, this book (originally titled Clavis Universalis) remains one of the most important contributions to the history of ideas ever written. In addition to his eagerly anticipated translation, Steven Clucas offers a substantial introduction that places this book in the context of other recent works on this fascinating subject. A rich history and valuable sourcebook, Logic and the Art of Memory documents an essential chapter in the development of human reason.

What are the defining characteristics of memory? What determines what is remembered and how much it is emphasized? In Context Is Everything, Susan Engel explores how the place, company, purpose, and situation--the context of the recollection--profoundly affects the essence and experience of a memory. Beginning with memory's most intimate setting--an exchange between a mother and a small child--Engel explores memory's function in such varied circumstances as a trial, a therapy session, the construction of our public persona, and the formulation of an autobiography. Blending vivid anecdotes with the startling findings of memory research, Engel examines the implications of context and purpose for memory, including one's motivation to remember and the strength or quality of the memory itself. She traces the trajectory of a memory from the moment of conception in the mind, through its social realization, and back to the owner, settling in his or her repertoire of the past. And she looks at memory as fodder for history--what is the basis for what we know and pass on? Beautifully written and filled with fresh insights on such contested issues as recovered memory and remembered testimony, Context Is Everything is both an informative and engaging read.

The 20th anniversary edition of Edwidge Danticat's groundbreaking debut, now an established classic--revised and with a new introduction by the author, and including extensive bonus materials At the age of twelve, Sophie Caco is sent from her impoverished Haitian village to New York to be reunited with a mother she barely remembers. There she discovers secrets that no child should ever know, and a legacy of shame that can be healed only when she returns to Haiti—to the women who first reared her. What ensues is a passionate journey through a landscape charged with the supernatural and scarred by political violence. In her stunning literary debut, Danticat evokes the wonder, terror, and heartache of her native Haiti—and the enduring strength of Haiti’s women—with vibrant imagery and narrative grace that bear witness to her people’s suffering and courage.

From before each of us was born, and up to a young age, our experiences of the world and of our parents shaped us in ways we do not even realise. Our brains were not developed enough to make sense of our early lives and so these experiences become unresolved, unconscious memories. Our responses to situations and events are often unconscious reflexes we devise to protect ourselves. As adults, this can lead us to repeat unwanted patterns that prevent us achieving what we really want. This book reveals the powerful, invisible waves of influence that inform our actions, bind us to the past and hold us back in our present. Simple but effective exercises provide the tools to identify exactly how our actions today are connected to our early childhood experiences and our relationships with our parents, as well as to past generations, history and culture. It also shows us what we can do about it now!

It is ironic how you can be involved in the lives of other people. Often you think that what is happening to them is remote from your own existence. When you discover that the same events are occurring in your life as well. As this walks down memory lane was being prepared my life was fairly normal. I was working with the memory loss population and finding it fascinating. The most intriguing part of my experience was that I got along with the individuals I care for so well. However, as my life was changing to be similar in many ways to the experiences of my residents and their families. The pain and the suffering that memory loss or brain injury brings is devastating but we must carry on. We must endure the unexpected twist and turns that come with memory loss, Alzheimer's, Dementia and TBI realities. The key to it all is unconditional love as our shield. May God's wisdom and discernment capture all who endure this unique journey.