Memory

Memory is a ubiquitous store of myriad information that individuals constantly access, regardless of their stage of life. Whether it is learning their own names when they start school as children or remembering where they last placed their keys as adults, everyone uses memory for basic functioning. That said, memory is not a unitary construct but a conglomeration of different kinds of information being encoded, stored, and accessed when needed. As well, there are changes in memory as individuals grow up, mature, and grow old. This entry explores short-term and working memory as well as long-term memory and false memory, while describing the changes in different types of memory across the life span.