Guest editorial: Special issue on brain inspired models of cognitive memory

• Main Authors: TANG, Huajin, RAMANATHAN, Kiruthika, NIGN, Ning
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2014
• Subjects: Databases and Information Systems
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/7390; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sis_research/article/8393/viewcontent/1_s2.0_S0925231214003622_main.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Current memory technologies have experienced significant progress in terms of storage capacity, operation speed, integration capability, etc. However, their functions are highly constrained in storing and transferring data in space and time, prompting the need for improvement. In contrast to physical memories, the biological counterpart – cognitive memory – has versatile functions. For instance, human memory stores data associatively such that different modalities of data could be retrieved simultaneously; it can learn different concepts, categorize and store them in an organized manner; it can process and store data concurrently and in a distributed fashion; it can restore content even if some part is damaged; it can perceive the stimulus and predict the next event; it can adapt to the environment and perform selective storage. Functions such as adaptation, learning, perception, self-organization and prediction make human memory have distinct cognitive features. However, the mechanisms how human memory cognitively operates and the ways how to utilize the bio-inspired mechanisms to practical applications are rarely known, yet urgently demanded.