A core memory can refer to two distinct concepts depending on context: 1.
Psychological/Emotional Core Memories:
These are special, emotionally significant memories that have a lasting impact
on a person's identity and behavior. Core memories are often foundational,
triggering strong emotions and shaping how individuals perceive themselves and
the world. They tend to be long-lasting and can resurface when related
emotions become dominant
. For example, in popular culture such as the film Inside Out , core memories are depicted as key moments that influence personality and emotional development
. 2. Computing Core Memory (Magnetic-Core Memory):
In computing, core memory refers to an early form of random-access memory used
from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. It consists of tiny magnetic toroids
(rings) made of ferrite, each storing one bit of data by magnetizing in one of
two directions to represent 0 or 1. Wires pass through these cores in an X-Y
grid, and by sending currents through selected wires, a particular core can be
magnetized or read. This memory is non-volatile, meaning it retains data even
when power is off. Core memory was reliable, resistant to electromagnetic
interference, and used in critical systems such as NASA's Apollo Guidance
Computer. It was eventually replaced by semiconductor memory technologies like
DRAM
. In summary, "core memory" can mean either emotionally significant memories in human psychology or a historic type of magnetic computer memory technology.
