Memory systems of the brain

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical development and current understanding of multiple memory systems in the brain, highlighting distinctions between conscious and unconscious memory processes supported by neural evidence.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive historical overview and current account of the multiple memory systems model in neuroscience.

Findings

Identification of distinct neural architectures for different memory types

Evidence supporting the separation of conscious and unconscious memory processes

Progressive consensus on multiple memory systems in the brain

Abstract

Humans have long been fascinated by how memories are formed, how they can be damaged or lost, or still seem vibrant after many years. Thus the search for the locus and organization of memory has had a long history, in which the notion that is is composed of distinct systems developed during the second half of the 20th century. A fundamental dichotomy between conscious and unconscious memory processes was first drawn based on evidences from the study of amnesiac subjects and the systematic experimental work with animals. The use of behavioral and neural measures together with imaging techniques have progressively led researchers to agree in the existence of a variety of neural architectures that support multiple memory systems. This article presents a historical lens with which to contextualize these idea on memory systems, and provides a current account for the multiple memory systems model.