What is associative memory?

Content-addressed or associative memory refers to a memory organization in which the memory is accessed by its content (as opposed to an explicit address). Thus, reference clues are "associated" with actual memory contents until a desirable match (or set of matches) is found. Production systems are obvious examples of systems that employ such a memory. Associative memory stands as the most likely model for cognitive memories, as well. Humans retrieve information best when it can be linked to other related information. This linking is fast, direct and labyrinthine in the sense that the memory map is many-to-many and homomorphic.