Full Idea
We should think of memory as a mechanism for generating current performance, including conscious thoughts and actions, on the basis of past experience.
Gist of Idea
Memory is mainly a guide for current performance
Source
John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 8.III)
Book Reference
Searle,John R.: 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' [MIT 1999], p.187
A Reaction
This seems to be falling into the fallacy of causal and functional theories, which Searle normally dislikes. If memory serves to aid current performance, that doesn't say what memory IS, any more than a foot is defined by walking.