The human brain is a complex system of processes that are not yet entirely understood; however there are many working theories and studies attempting to decode the brain. Memory is as an intangible concept that has been formed through speculation and testing that is often inconclusive and varying, depending on the complexity of the study and the variables taken into consideration. Working memory is the aspect of memory that I will be focusing on in this paper, it exists somewhere between long-term and short-term memory and is the brain's ability to store information in a way that also allows it to be rearranged and edited (Bledowski). It is also, however, only one aspect of memory's functions and one of the most commonly researched and recognized aspects of memory- this may be because it contains what is very likely the most complex memory function. This paper will be discussing the function of memory, or more specifically, working memory, and discussing the possibly faulty, yet common, belief that memory is fundamentally past oriented.
Part I; Working memory:
It has been observed that memory does not have a designated region of the brain in which it operates, but within other regions and alongside other common processes- a result of interaction between the regions of the brain (Bledowski). Regions of the brain most commonly associated with working memory include; the prefrontal cortex, frontal lobe, mid cingulate cortex, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, hippocampus,cerebellum, frontal cortex, and the thalamus (Stevens). Being a part of all of these regions suggests the general range working memory has in the brain and the importance of it in our lives. Our brains have limits, therefore working memory is not unlimited. We must reduce all of the information around us to a smaller size in order to make what we do take in sensible and manageable. Discarding the useless information and storing the useful is an aspect of working memory. The use of mnemonics when...