Memory Disorders Within the Frame of Algorithmic Thinking: Brain Imaging Evidence Antonia Plerou Department of Informatics, Ionian University Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory (BiHeLab) Corfu, Greece tplerou@ionio.gr Catherine Bobori Department of Informatics, Ionian University Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory (BiHeLab) Corfu, Greece p12bobo@ionio.gr Abstract— During the last decades the interest about the research of neurocognitive issues within the frame of brain imaging techniques is considerably high. In this paper authors’ approach concerns the research and the evaluation of the so-called cognitive disorders within the frame of memory and algorithmic abilities. The exceptionality of calendrical savant’s skills, the influence of memory, calculation and algorithmic abilities were analyzed within the frame of cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging techniques. Future directions in order to enhance the theoretical findings concerning memory disorders – specifically by analyzing the brain activity signal within the use of brain imaging techniques are also discussed. Keywords—Brain imaging techniques; memory disorders; autism; calendrical savants; algorithmic thinking. I. INTRODUCTION Cognitive neuroscience is the study of cognitive operations such as attention, problem solving and memory. Memory disorders are mild or severe, progressive or immediate. Amnestic syndrome as a memory disorder affects the short- term memory with signs of anterograde or retrograde amnesia as well as confabulation, disorientation etc. Specifically, in Anterograde amnesia, the impaired person loses the ability to create new memories after the onset of amnesia. Furthermore, Autism which is characterized by difficulty in social interaction, communication and information processing, affects the functioning of virtually in the entire brain, memory, planning inhibition etc. Finally, calendrical savants’ possess notable abilities in music and art. They have prodigious memory and remarkable calendrical calculation abilities, being able to calculate accurately past or future dates or perform complex calculations, although they are unable to describe the method they use. Several studies suggest that maybe savant’s abilities are based in algorithmic thinking and not only in memory. Recent brain imaging studies, trying to evaluate savants’ abilities, suggest that the left hemisphere is more activated than the right one relating the ability with memory as well as algorithmic thinking. Mathematical reasoning is a core component of cognition and the study of experts defines the upper limits of human cognitive abilities, such mental calculators [1]. Nevertheless, it is to be clarified whether savant’s abilities are due to memory, algorithmic thinking or intelligence. II. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE Neuroscience is the study of nervous system anatomy and physiology. It is involved with the structure and the functions of this system in humans and other animals. Neuroscience provides a body of knowledge that serves as a foundation for understanding how cognitive operations are carried out. Neuroscience is invaluable in this regard because it related to models of brain function that can be formulated in the several approaches. There has been a fairly recent trend in neuroscience towards the integration of biology with cognition. Out of this union, a new discipline has emerged, called cognitive neuroscience or neuropsychology. The goal of this discipline is to explicate the structures and physiological processes that underlie specific cognitive functions. These cognitive operations are visual object recognition, attention, memory, and problem solving. This neuroscience perspective builds and expands on the information processing models for these operations that were described previously. A fair amount of background knowledge is needed to interpret the findings of neuroscience studies [2]. III. MEMORY DISORDERS Memory disorders range from mild to severe but all lead to damage to the neurons and they can be categorized in progressive or immediate. Examples of memory disorders are the dementias, a group of symptoms caused by a brain disease. In dementias short – term memory is usually affected while the impaired people might be able to remember events of the past. Patients show problems with memory, speech and