THERE’S MORE TO MEMORY THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

WE MIGHT fear losing our memory, but science has found that it is bound up with the whole thinking process. This means that while we have much memory function to lose, we have a lot to gain if we take steps to boost our brain health.

Neuroscientists used to describe memory as a filing cabinet which stores individual memory files, or a warehouse where we keep our knowledge when not using it.

But today, we know that memory is far more complex and dynamic — our memories are constantly changing as we take in fresh information and interpret it.

Memory is the cornerstone of all learning. It is where we store knowledge and process that knowledge, and it is perhaps the most commonly recognised cognitive function.

But cognition also includes attention, writing, reading, abstract thinking, decision-making, problemsolving and performing everyday tasks (such as navigating your way while driving, working out the tip at a restaurant, appreciating the benefits or harmful effects of the food you eat, or admiring the works of artists).

In fact, we don’t even know the real difference between how we remember and how we think. But we do know the two are tightly intertwined.

Memories are so important. They are what give us a sense of self and identity. They are what make us feel alive, capable and valuable. They also help us feel comfortable with certain people and surroundings, connect the past with the present and yield a framework for the future.

Even bad memories can be useful, as they help us to avoid certain situations and inform better decision-making.

Our memory must decide what information is worth keeping and where it fits in relation to knowledge we have already stored. What we keep in our memories helps us to process unfamiliar situations. When you read an article in a magazine, newspaper or online, you digest the new information by using that which you’ve already got tucked away in your memory.

The fresh data might evoke certain ingrained beliefs, values and ideas that are unique to you — and your brain will try to interpret the information, make sense of it, fit it into your worldview and then decide whether you will retain it (while altering previously stored information) or allow it to become forgotten.

So, as you read the article, your memory is changing by both adding new information and finding the right place to put it.

And while this is happening, you are giving yourself a different way to link the fresh information with older, slightly modified information.

This is complicated, but it is important to know that memory is fundamentally a learning process — the result of constantly interpreting and analysing incoming information.