Memory

People generally seem to be intrigued by memory and its sometimes spectacular failure in (for example) people with amnesia. However, students do not always share this enthusiasm. The reason is clear: we can only understand memory by carrying out carefully-designed experiments, and these experiments can often seem boring even when they are exciting science. Fortunately, we now know enough about memory to relate laboratory studies to the world beyond. In other words, our scientific knowledge of memory and how it works can help us to explain those aspects of memory that most people find of greatest interest.

This book presents a thorough, accessible and appealing overview of the field, written with students in mind, by some of the world's leading researchers. It starts with a brief overview and explanation of the scientific approach to memory before going on to discuss the basic characteristics of the various memory systems and how they work. Summaries of short-term and working memory are followed by chapters on learning, the role of organization in memory, the ways in which our knowledge of the world is stored, retrieval, and on intentional and motivated forgetting.

The latter half of the book involves the broader application of our basic understanding of memory, with chapters on autobiographical memory, amnesia, and on memory in childhood and aging. After chapters discussing eyewitness testimony and prospective memory, a final chapter addresses an issue of great importance to students - how to improve your memory.

Each chapter of the book is written by one of the three authors, an approach which takes full advantage of their individual expertise and style and makes for a more personal and accessible text. This enhances students enjoyment of the book, allowing them to share the author's own fascination with human memory.