The past, the future and the biology of memory storage

We here briefly review a century of accomplishments in studying memory stor age and delineate the two major questions that have dominated thinking in t his area: the systems question of memory, which concerns where in the brain storage occurs; and the molecular question of memory, which concerns the m echanisms whereby memories are stored and maintained. We go on to consider the themes that memory research may be able to address in the 21st century Finally, we reflect on the clinical and societal import of our increasing u nderstanding of the mechanisms of memory, discussing possible therapeutic a pproaches to diseases that manifest with disruptions of learning and possib le ethical implications of the ability which is on the horizon, to ameliora te or even enhance human memory.