# Memory, Consciousness and Large Language Model

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.02509 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.02509/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 7 of its 29 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 4 Jan 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [Language Models are Few-Shot Learners](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14165/) (2020)
- [Mamba: Linear-Time Sequence Modeling with Selective State Spaces](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.00752/) (2023)
- [Emergent Abilities of Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.07682/) (2022)
- [Are Emergent Abilities of Large Language Models a Mirage?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.15004/) (2023)
- [Data Distributional Properties Drive Emergent In-Context Learning in Transformers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.05055/) (2022)
- [Label Words are Anchors: An Information Flow Perspective for Understanding In-Context Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.14160/) (2023)
- [Are Emergent Abilities in Large Language Models just In-Context Learning?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.01809/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [MIRIX: Multi-Agent Memory System for LLM-Based Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.07957/) (2025)
- [Externalization in LLM Agents: A Unified Review of Memory, Skills, Protocols and Harness Engineering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.08224/) (2026)
- [Mem-α: Learning Memory Construction via Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.25911/) (2025)
- [Large Language Models and Cognitive Science: A Comprehensive Review of Similarities, Differences, and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.02387/) (2024)
- [A Survey of Agent Memory in the Second Half: Towards Self-Evolving and Long-Horizon Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.06052/) (2026)
- [Emergent Abilities in Large Language Models: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.05788/) (2025)
- [Large Language Model Benchmarks in Medical Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.21348/) (2024)
- [Memory GAPS: Would LLMs pass the Tulving Test?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.16505/) (2024)
- [TinyEmo: Scaling down Emotional Reasoning via Metric Projection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.07062/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

With the development in cognitive science and Large Language Models (LLMs), increasing connections have come to light between these two distinct fields. Building upon these connections, we propose a conjecture suggesting the existence of a duality between LLMs and Tulving's theory of memory. We identify a potential correspondence between Tulving's synergistic ecphory model (SEM) of retrieval and the emergent abilities observed in LLMs, serving as supporting evidence for our conjecture. Furthermore, we speculate that consciousness may be considered a form of emergent ability based on this duality. We also discuss how other theories of consciousness intersect with our research.