Brief Description
Memories come in many different forms and vary substantially in strength; some, such as where you put your car keys, can be brief, while others remain in the mind forever. James McGaugh, a leading neurobiologist, provides an accessible and thought-provoking look at how we remember and why we forget. Beginning with the first scientific studies of learning and ending with the latest cutting-edge research, he explores how memories are made and preserved; why some experiences fade and disappear with time; how stress hormones effect the consolidation of memory; whether drugs would improve our ability to learn; and what studies of extraordinary memories and disorders tell us about the workings of the brain systems involved in memory formation.
Learn More about the Book
Most of us remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. Why do most experiences leave little trace while some--even terrible ordeals that people wish they could forget--leave memories that last a lifetime? That is the mystery at the heart of this book.
Drawing on fascinating research and case studies, James McGaugh, a distinguished neuroscientist, reveals that the key to understanding how memories are created may well be understanding how they are lost. He shows that lasting memories are not stored instantly. Why the delay? The author explains how the slow consolidation of memory has important adaptive consequences. It allows physiological processes activated by experiences to regulate the strength of the memory of the experiences. Emotionally arousing experiences induce the release of stress hormones, which act on the brain to influence the consolidation of our memories of recent experience. These findings have important implications for the controversial issues of post-traumatic stress disorder and repressed memory syndrome.
From the prescientific writings of William James to the animal studies of the memory-research pioneers Pavlov, Thorndike, and Tolman, to the latest research of psychologists and neurologists drawing on PET imaging studies of the brain and laboratory experiments involving a variety of drugs, this succinct book provides a wealth of information.
Review Quotes
1. "The book blends scientific research with personal anecdotes and even examples from literature for an absorbing read on the mysteries of memory." -- "The Daily News of Los Angeles"
2. "McGaugh has issued an invitation to adventure for any reader who has wondered about how our brains achieve one of their most extraordinary -- and still mysterious -- feats." -- Guy M. McKhann, "Cerebrum"
3. "This readable book provides easy access to the dramatic progress that has taken place in the scientific understanding of memory. The writing style is engaging and the material fascinating. Highly recommended." -- "Choice"
4. "McGaugh, one of the world's leading experts on the neurobiology of memory and emotion... offers a basic history of the research on learning and memory...This is a fine book for academic and larger public libraries." -- "Library Journal"
5. "The book provides a succinct and lucid summary of many facts related to memory... [and] will almost inevitably reward readers with facts or points of view not previously considered." -- Robert W. Doty, "Quarterly Review of Biology"
6. "The book blends scientific research with personal anecdotes and even examples from literature for an absorbing read on the mysteries of memory." -- The Daily News of Los Angeles
7. "McGaugh has issued an invitation to adventure for any reader who has wondered about how our brains achieve one of their most extraordinary -- and still mysterious -- feats." -- Guy M. McKhann, Cerebrum
8. "This readable book provides easy access to the dramatic progress that has taken place in the scientific understanding of memory. The writing style is engaging and the material fascinating. Highly recommended." -- Choice
9. "The book provides a succinct and lucid summary of many facts related to memory... [and] will almost inevitably reward readers with facts or points of view not previously considered." -- Robert W. Doty, Quarterly Review of Biology
10. "McGaugh, one of the world's leading experts on the neurobiology of memory and emotion... offers a basic history of the research on learning and memory...This is a fine book for academic and larger public libraries." -- Library Journal
11.
"The book blends scientific research with personal anecdotes and even examples from literature for an absorbing read on the mysteries of memory." -- "The Daily News of Los Angeles"
12.
"McGaugh has issued an invitation to adventure for any reader who has wondered about how our brains achieve one of their most extraordinary -- and still mysterious -- feats." -- Guy M. McKhann, "Cerebrum"
13.
"This readable book provides easy access to the dramatic progress that has taken place in the scientific understanding of memory. The writing style is engaging and the material fascinating. Highly recommended." -- "Choice"
14.
"The book provides a succinct and lucid summary of many facts related to memory... [and] will almost inevitably reward readers with facts or points of view not previously considered." -- Robert W. Doty, "Quarterly Review of Biology"
15.
"McGaugh, one of the world's leading experts on the neurobiology of memory and emotion... offers a basic history of the research on learning and memory...This is a fine book for academic and larger public libraries." -- "Library Journal"
16. "In "Memory and Emotion," James L. McGaugh gives a rich and insightful overview of modern memory research in the context of seminal discoveries of the past. Perhaps no one alive today is better suited to have written such a book.... Although I too work in the field, I learned many things about its history from this a concise, well-written book, which nonexperts will also enjoy.... superb." -- Joseph E. LeDoux, "American Scientist"
17.
McGaugh, one of the world's leading experts on the neurobiology of memory and emotion... offers a basic history of the research on learning and memory...This is a fine book for academic and larger public libraries.--Mary Anne Hughes "Library Journal "
18.
The book provides a succinct and lucid summary of many facts related to memory... [and] will almost inevitably reward readers with facts or points of view not previously considered.--Robert W. Doty "Quarterly Review of Biology "
19.
In "Memory and Emotion", James L. McGaugh gives a rich and insightful overview of modern memory research in the context of seminal discoveries of the past. Perhaps no one alive today is better suited to have written such a book.... Although I too work in the field, I learned many things about its history from this a concise, well-written book, which nonexperts will also enjoy.... superb.--Joseph E. LeDoux "American Scientist "
20.
In "Memory and Emotion," James L. McGaugh gives a rich and insightful overview of modern memory research in the context of seminal discoveries of the past. Perhaps no one alive today is better suited to have written such a book.... Although I too work in the field, I learned many things about its history from this a concise, well-written book, which nonexperts will also enjoy.... superb.--Joseph E. LeDoux "American Scientist "
21.
McGaugh has issued an invitation to adventure for any reader who has wondered about how our brains achieve one of their most extraordinary--and still mysterious--feats.--Guy M. McKhann "Cerebrum "
22.
In Memory and Emotion, James L. McGaugh gives a rich and insightful overview of modern memory research in the context of seminal discoveries of the past. Perhaps no one alive today is better suited to have written such a book.... Although I too work in the field, I learned many things about its history from this a concise, well-written book, which nonexperts will also enjoy.... superb.
--Joseph E. LeDoux "American Scientist "
23.
McGaugh, one of the world's leading experts on the neurobiology of memory and emotion... offers a basic history of the research on learning and memory...This is a fine book for academic and larger public libraries.
--Mary Anne Hughes "Library Journal "
24.
McGaugh has issued an invitation to adventure for any reader who has wondered about how our brains achieve one of their most extraordinary--and still mysterious--feats.
--Guy M. McKhann "Cerebrum "
25.
The book provides a succinct and lucid summary of many facts related to memory... [and] will almost inevitably reward readers with facts or points of view not previously considered.
--Robert W. Doty "Quarterly Review of Biology "
