memory

Crucial 2GB 667 Mhz CT25664AC667 DDR2 200-Pin SODIMM Laptop Memory
$68.99
Ordered this laptop memory based on the Amazon ad which stated if you bought the Samsung Netbook you should buy this memory and a carrying case for the netbook. Have had nothing but problems for the past month ++. (Screen completely goes black) Been on the phone with Samsung tech support and crucial tech support for days. Finally found out we had the wrong memory card. Sent back to Amazon, don't know what they will do for us.

The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play
$6.99
Dry. Definitely NOT a page turner. I mean it is a self help kind of book so I guess thats to be expected. The techniques can be useful. Actually they can be extremely powerful. Yet, no quick fix here, they are tough to learn and very tough to enact. You can find a few gems along the way however, that you may use in spite of the entirety of the techniques. Meaning, for example, step 2 of 5 on its own may be cool to use everyday, without the practice needed, to master the whole technique. Overall, Im happy with the purchase. I bought it to help me study for med classes. Unfortunately, I haven't had any eureka moments with the book, just feel like one more thing I have to practice and study. If I ever get around to mastering the book I could see it being invaluable. Right now though, its still post-it notes and flashcards for me.

In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind
$18.95
Overall Opinion:

"In Search of Memory" by Eric Kandel is an engaging read that covers a wide variety of topics from the beginnings of neuroscience to extraordinary breakthroughs in the field of molecular biology. I purchased this book with the intention of learning about the mechanisms that give rise to short-term and long-term memory but was happily surprised to find that it contained so much more than that. I found "In Search of Memory" fascinating, humorous at times, and thorough; in this review, I hope to persuade others to read this exceptional book.

Synopsis:

Kandel begins his narrative by describing his vivid memory of the night the Gestapo raided his house; he would later come to realize that this incident occurred during Kristallnacht, or the "Night of Broken Glass," where devastating, anti-Semitic riots took place in Germany and Austria in November 1938. Kandel notes that even more than 60 years later, he can recall every detail and emotion he was experiencing at the moment. It is these events which prompted his later remarkable scientific work: how processes in the brain enable us to store memories.

Before describing his life's work on memory, Kandel provides an excellent overview of how discoveries made in the 20th century have contributed to our body of knowledge concerning the nervous system and have shaped neuroscience into the discipline it is today. We learn about Santiago Ram���n y Cajal, whose pivotal observations regarding the structure and function of neurons comprise the neuron doctrine, or the theory of neural organization fundamental to our understanding of the brain. Subsequent topics of discussion include the generation and propagation of action potentials, the resting membrane potential of a neuron, synaptic transmission between two neurons through the release of neurotransmitters, and other signaling mechanisms.

To study how memory is stored in the brain, Kandel decided to take a reductionist approach by examining cells that participate in the memory storage process. Given the limited technology and knowledge of the brain's neural circuits at the time, he realized it would be exceedingly difficult to understand how memory is stored in neuronal networks using the hippocampus of a mammal as an experimental model. Thus, he concluded that Aplysia, a large sea snail, would be the most suitable animal for his experiments because of its simple nervous system; most of the snail's large cells are assembled in clusters (ganglia) that contain a relatively small amount of cells dedicated to simple reflex responses, making it possible for scientists to isolate a single, simple behavior to analyze.

Using Aplysia as an experimental model, Kandel and his colleagues eventually discovered the cellular mechanisms that give rise to short-term and long-term memory. Learning results in short-term memory because it generates temporary alterations in the strength of the synaptic connections between neurons. In order for short-term memory to be converted to long-term memory, gene transcription must occur to maintain long-lasting synaptic changes.

After achieving such success with Aplysia, Kandel decided to examine higher cognitive processes, such as explicit memory in the hippocampus of the mammalian brain. In particular, he wished to study whether long-term potentiation, a phenomenon that promotes synaptic strengthening in the hippocampus, is analogous to the mechanisms of long-term facilitation he discovered in Aplysia. Although he found that there are several differences between the two processes, he notes that vertebrate and invertebrate animals share several vital cellular mechanisms of memory.

Kandel then turned his attention to age-related memory loss in Alzheimer's disease and found that this long-term memory deficit involves the hippocampus. In addition, he noticed that aging coincides with a loss of synapses that release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is critical to long-term potentiation. Memory Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company of which Kandel was a co-founder, currently develops drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease as well as several other memory dysfunctions that accompany other mental illnesses.

"In Search of Memory" concludes with Kandel's pondering where neuroscience is heading in the years ahead; he believes that understanding how complex cognitive functions will require scientists to move from the study of elementary processes (single cells and proteins) to the level of the neural circuit. Finally, he mentions several questions he wishes to answer, including how selective attention guides the stabilization of memory in the brain and the relation between conscious and unconscious processing in the human brain.

Review

What appealed to me about "In Search of Memory" is Kandel's use of vivid detail to describe not only his own scientific work but also the revolutionary discoveries made by pioneering neuroscientists of the 20th century. We learn much about the specific proteins and enzymes involved in cellular mechanisms that result in short-term and long-term memory, and we gain a solid understanding of the remarkable findings that led up to Kandel's experimentation. Although Kandel utilizes technical jargon, he takes great care to define every term so that a reader who is not familiar with neuroscience can understand the intricate topics discussed. These explanations are beneficial to the casual reader as well as an individual who is already well-versed in the subject because they serve as good refresher material. In addition, I found the extensive glossary in the back of the book to be a useful resource.

One topic that I found particularly interesting is synaptic plasticity, which describes the ability of synaptic connections to change in strength. I was not aware that different types of learning result in different patterns of neural activity, each of which affects synaptic connections in a specific manner. That learning actually alters the nature of connections between neurons is remarkable to me. I believe that Kandel's illumination of the physiological mechanisms underlying learning complements descriptive psychological studies that have been conducted regarding different forms of learning and how they affect our behavior.

I also enjoyed reading about how technological advances made in the second half of the 20th century propelled Kandel's research and enabled him to expand it from implicit memory in an invertebrate animal to explicit memory in the mammalian brain. Without the development of recombinant DNA and gene cloning techniques, he would not have been able to determine how the regulation of genes related to the conversion of short-term memory to long-term memory.

In addition to describing the conclusions drawn from his experiments, Kandel thoroughly explains his approach to the questions he wishes to address. For example, before he discusses the details of his experimentation with Aplysia, Kandel first notes what specific questions concerning memory he would like to answer; then, he devotes an entire chapter to explaining how he chose Aplysia as an experimental model. He lists particular requirements that the chosen model must possess and then discusses how Aplysia fulfills these qualifications. I appreciated this method of writing because it provided me with insight into his thought process. Furthermore, it demonstrates how essential it is for a scientist to approach problems with a rational mindset and develop sound methods for testing hypotheses.

Finally, Kandel utilizes clear, concise language that facilitates reading the complex material discussed. His writing style is fluid, and he skillfully intertwines his autobiography with the scientific information presented. It was enjoyable to read the humorous anecdotes and accounts of his personal life interspersed throughout the book. The only complaint I have is that some parts of the book are slightly repetitive.

Interesting Quotes:

"I would...proceed to investigate the territory of explicit memory `one cell at a time.'"
This quote is the foundation of Kandel's reductionist approach to understanding the cellular mechanisms in the brain that allow us to store memories.

"Day science is rational, logical, pragmatic, carried forward by precisely designed experiments...Night science, on the other hand, `is a sort of workshop of the possible, where elaborated what will become the building materials of science.'"
The distinction between "day science" and "night science" is interesting; Kandel notes that initially, his study of short-term memory in Aplysia fell under the category of "night science." However, as he managed to discover the process by which learning affects the strength of synaptic connections, he believed that his studies were "day science."

Conclusion:

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "In Search of Memory;" Kandel's writing is clear and easy to understand. He provides a comprehensive, informative overview of how neuroscience has progressed to the discipline it is today. That Kandel was able to elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying short-term and long-term memory is extraordinary, and reading about his progression from studying simpler types of memory to analyzing higher cognitive functions like explicit memory and consciousness is intriguing. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about how the brain stores memory and does not mind reading a large volume of material.

Memory Game - Disney Princess Edition
$9.99
I bought this to play with 4 children all under 10. It's a lot of fun if you have the patience.