What part of the brain controls memory?

The temporal lobes of the brain control memory. The temporal lobes are located on each side of the human brain, directly behind the temples.

The temporal lobes encode events into memories. Temporal lobes also facilitate the long term storage of memories. Damage to the temporal lobes potentially results in short or long-term amnesia. Memory formation in the temporal lobes involves interaction with another part of the brain, the amygdala. In addition to memory, hearing and listening are other primary functions of the temporal lobes. The temporal lobes permit a person to identify sounds and to make sense out of speech.