Memory

An memory or memory engram is a bio-chemical imprint, located within the neural cell tissue of a lifeform's brain. Memories are often recalled by outside, physical stimuli.

From the 23rd to 24th centuries, Federation medicine has techniques to boost, or repress memory. It has been observed through both hypnosis and psychoanalysis that no memory can be truly destroyed-only blocked by the mind -for the sake of a subject's health. Nor can a memory be created, or implanted, once a humanoid's consciousness refuses to accept , "discrepencies." Thus, altered and distorted memories are the result of these interactions of "remembrances" with the outside world. The temporal lobe, along with hypothalamus and cerebral cortex are usually the higher functions of the nervous system to discern such differences. 

The Alpha Quadrant and abroad use memory engram preocedures to aid victims and punish offenders  Devices throughout the galaxy exist that can either neutralize or jog engrams for cases of amnesia and dementia.

Positronic brains have the capability of collecting engrams. This can be done for later testimony by colonists, if no other means of recordkeeping is available-as well as for posterity to preseve the knowledge of research. . These AI networks also have failsafes that can withold sensitive info in times of danger for later download, and can also serve as a "piggy back" for forged programs. Positronic relays have shown to (temporarily) maintain thought process to fulfil a critical task, before brain death occurs. 

One of the first attempts Starfleet made to have duotronic units onboard starships process data as a brain would was experiments in multitronics, in the 2260s. The memory banks were patterned from specimen engrams of the designer. Theoretically, the medium would have succeded. During this decade, Mnemonic memory circuitry also became prevalent in finding "forgotten", original timelines in alternate history. 

Later, by the 2370s, ship systems used bio-neural circuitry; each gel pack functioned in unison for the "host" vessel-storing and retrieving more memory than the previous isolinear software. 

Memory is a key factor in determining the logic of a statement, or claim being presented. When lacking in of itself, no bluff of memory can be a substitute.