The introduction to the memory section of the second edition of *The Cognitive Neurosciences* provides an overview of the field, emphasizing the complexity and multifaceted nature of memory. It highlights the central role of memory in cognitive neuroscience and the ongoing fascination and challenges in understanding it. The nine chapters in this section cover a range of methods and procedures, including electrical recordings from neurons, lesion studies, psychopharmacological experiments, and functional neuroimaging. The focus is on gaining insights into the neuronal substrates of learning and memory and the relationship between neural mechanisms and memory processes. The introduction discusses the concept of memory systems, distinguishing between procedural and cognitive memory, and further dividing cognitive memory into working memory, perceptual representation, semantic memory, and episodic memory. It also explores the nature of memory tasks and processes, such as encoding, storage, and retrieval, and the role of information in these processes. The section delves into the distinction between explicit and implicit memory, and between remembering and knowing, highlighting the importance of conscious awareness in memory retrieval. Additionally, the introduction addresses the challenges of applying concepts like encoding and retrieval at the level of single neurons and in nonhuman animals, noting the limitations and opportunities in studying memory across different species. Finally, it concludes by reflecting on the rapid advancements in the field, including new techniques and phenomena, and the exciting future prospects for neurocognitive memory research.The introduction to the memory section of the second edition of *The Cognitive Neurosciences* provides an overview of the field, emphasizing the complexity and multifaceted nature of memory. It highlights the central role of memory in cognitive neuroscience and the ongoing fascination and challenges in understanding it. The nine chapters in this section cover a range of methods and procedures, including electrical recordings from neurons, lesion studies, psychopharmacological experiments, and functional neuroimaging. The focus is on gaining insights into the neuronal substrates of learning and memory and the relationship between neural mechanisms and memory processes. The introduction discusses the concept of memory systems, distinguishing between procedural and cognitive memory, and further dividing cognitive memory into working memory, perceptual representation, semantic memory, and episodic memory. It also explores the nature of memory tasks and processes, such as encoding, storage, and retrieval, and the role of information in these processes. The section delves into the distinction between explicit and implicit memory, and between remembering and knowing, highlighting the importance of conscious awareness in memory retrieval. Additionally, the introduction addresses the challenges of applying concepts like encoding and retrieval at the level of single neurons and in nonhuman animals, noting the limitations and opportunities in studying memory across different species. Finally, it concludes by reflecting on the rapid advancements in the field, including new techniques and phenomena, and the exciting future prospects for neurocognitive memory research.