A method for operating an integrated memory unit having a memory cell field includes the steps of, before a memory access, partitioning the memory cell field into a plurality of memory areas, for memory access, selecting one of the memory areas through the application of a memory area address, during the memory access, and internally generating addresses for access to memory cells of the one of the memory areas by the memory unit. Through a common external terminal connection of the memory unit, the memory area addresses are transmitted, and, subsequently, access data of the one of the memory areas are transmitted successively. The operating method enables a comparatively low number of terminal tendons.