1. A memory system, comprising: at least one memory region that may store data; and a logic section that may be used to execute an atomic operation during a data transfer cycle of the memory system, the atomic operation including performing an addition operation involving summing together a first complete data word from the memory region and a second complete data word from a device external to the memory system, the first data word being retrieved from the memory region and being received by the logic section during the data transfer cycle, and the second data word being received by the logic section from the device during the data transfer cycle, the atomic operation also including transmitting to the device the first data word.