Biological memory in animals and in man

This chapter will deal with natural forms of learning and memory, with particular emphasis on the vertebrate and human brain function. The topographical and temporal organization of multiple interacting memory systems will be first described at the cognitive and psychological level. Recent developments in pharmacology and molecular genetics will then be discussed to provide a state-of-the-art description of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying memory formation, consolidation, retrieval, and reconsolidation. Finally, a comparative analysis between natural and artificial memory devices will be outlined.