Know your memory!
Again about the brain. This time let's look at memory. How is your memory?
The brain can create, exaggerate or re-invent memory. We can remember things that didn't even happen. Recalling something that never even happened is called false memory. In one experiment, the researcher was able to convince 70% of the participants that they had committed a crime when in reality they had not. This exemplifies the power of suggestion.
The capacity of the brain to store memory is limitless! The amount of data that the brain can store is about 2.5 petabytes - the size of the entire internet. Aging does not have a direct effect on memory. Memory loss is because you use it less as you age. Stress hormones released during jet lag can damage memory. Do you know that you are incapable of forming memory while drunk?
Memories do not decay but if not rehearsed, they become harder to access. Our memories start forming in the womb - fetal memory. Remember I told you last week that research has shown that babies can pick out and recognise their mothers' voices immediately after birth? They can remember sounds played to them during pregnancy.
We have 2 types of memory - short term and long term memory. Our short term memory can hold 7 things for 20 seconds. New information first passes through our short term memory before becoming part of long term memory.
It's been demonstrated that memory is distributed in different parts of the brain. For the memory to be recalled, it is reconstructed from individual fragments. Our emotions prioritized our memories. These emotions connect to new information and act as an indicator of importance. Intense emotional memories can be recalled more easily and last longer in the mind.
Not actively focusing on something allows your subconscious to work on ideas in the background while you do other things. This is how procrastination may be beneficial.
So, know your memory.
Ref: US Nat Lib Science and Binzegger et al 2004.
The brain can create, exaggerate or re-invent memory. We can remember things that didn't even happen. Recalling something that never even happened is called false memory. In one experiment, the researcher was able to convince 70% of the participants that they had committed a crime when in reality they had not. This exemplifies the power of suggestion.
The capacity of the brain to store memory is limitless! The amount of data that the brain can store is about 2.5 petabytes - the size of the entire internet. Aging does not have a direct effect on memory. Memory loss is because you use it less as you age. Stress hormones released during jet lag can damage memory. Do you know that you are incapable of forming memory while drunk?
Memories do not decay but if not rehearsed, they become harder to access. Our memories start forming in the womb - fetal memory. Remember I told you last week that research has shown that babies can pick out and recognise their mothers' voices immediately after birth? They can remember sounds played to them during pregnancy.
We have 2 types of memory - short term and long term memory. Our short term memory can hold 7 things for 20 seconds. New information first passes through our short term memory before becoming part of long term memory.
It's been demonstrated that memory is distributed in different parts of the brain. For the memory to be recalled, it is reconstructed from individual fragments. Our emotions prioritized our memories. These emotions connect to new information and act as an indicator of importance. Intense emotional memories can be recalled more easily and last longer in the mind.
Not actively focusing on something allows your subconscious to work on ideas in the background while you do other things. This is how procrastination may be beneficial.
So, know your memory.
Ref: US Nat Lib Science and Binzegger et al 2004.
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