Memory is a fundamental cognitive function that allows us to retain and retrieve information about our past experiences. It plays a crucial role in our daily lives, shaping our perceptions, behaviors, and decisions. While traditional forms of memory refer to the storage and retrieval of information within the brain, a groundbreaking concept known as exosomatic memory has emerged in recent years. Exosomatic memory refers to the external storage and retrieval of information outside of the human brain, such as through technology and social systems. This concept challenges the traditional view of memory and raises important questions about the impact of technology on our cognitive processes. In this essay, we will explore the concept of exosomatic memory and how it differs from traditional forms of memory.
Exosomatic memory is the recording of memories outside the brain. The earliest forms of symbolic behavior—scratching marks on bones—seem to be intended as exosomatic memory. However it was the invention of writing that allowed complex memories to be recorded.
A more narrow meaning of exosomatic memory is a computerized information system that interfaces directly with the brain and functions as an extension of the users memory. Such systems have been used as plot device in numerous science fiction stories, especially among the cyberpunk genre. More recently, as scientific knowledge of neurology improves some such as Gregory B. Newby are suggesting that such a device may be possible.