memorie

Memorie is a term used in several Romance languages to denote memory in a broad sense. In Italian, memorie is the plural of memoria and can refer to memories, memoirs, or collective recollections; in Romanian, memorie denotes memory or mental capacity. More generally, memorie covers the faculty by which experiences are encoded, stored, and later recalled, as well as symbolic or literal records kept for future use.

In human memory, cognitive science describes processes of encoding, consolidation, storage, and retrieval. Memory is commonly categorized by duration and function. Sensory memory holds fleeting impressions from the senses, short-term or working memory maintains information for immediate use, and long-term memory stores information over extended periods. Long-term memory subdivides into declarative (episodic and semantic) memory, which can be consciously recalled, and nondeclarative or procedural memory, which includes skills and habits. Memory is prone to distortion and decay, and its accuracy can be influenced by attention, emotion, repetition, and suggestion.

Cultural memory refers to how groups, institutions, and societies remember the past. It involves collective narratives, rituals, monuments, museums, literature, and media that shape shared interpretations of history and identity. Cultural memory can evolve over time as new information surfaces or as perspectives shift.

In computing, memory denotes components that store data for rapid access. Computer memory is typically distinguished from storage: memory is fast and volatile, while storage provides persistent retention. Common forms include random-access memory (RAM), cache memory, read-only memory (ROM), and non-volatile storage such as flash memory and hard drives. The memory hierarchy underpins system performance and design.