How We Remember and why We Forget

How We Remember and why We Forget
Author: Rebecca Rupp
Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA)
Total Pages: 360
Release: 1998
Genre: Psychology
ISBN:

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED . . . Why you can remember your first date but not what you had for lunch last Tuesday? What slugs, bugs, and squirrels have to tell us about human memory? How the smell of pine trees or buttered popcorn can help you remember? Why dieting may make you forget? Why practice makes perfect? How a spell of the moody blues can affect your memory? In this extraordinary book, scientist Rebecca Rupp sheds light on one of the most mysterious and fascinating aspects of the brain: our memory. What are the chemical processes that occur in the brain when we remember? Why does memory change as we grow older? How We Remember and Why We Forget also features useful memory-improving techniques and tricks to remember essential information. Learn to defeat that common bugbear of memory, the forgetting of proper names; pick up a quick trick for remembering telephone numbers; and find out how to enrich your mind (and impress your friends and colleagues) by memorizing lengthy poems. Tips like these lend a practical edge to this illuminating exploration of a largely uncharted realm..

Forgetting

Forgetting
Author: Scott A. Small
Publisher: Crown
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2021-07-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0593136209

“Fascinating and useful . . . The distinguished memory researcher Scott A. Small explains why forgetfulness is not only normal but also beneficial.”—Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of The Code Breaker and Leonardo da Vinci Who wouldn’t want a better memory? Dr. Scott Small has dedicated his career to understanding why memory forsakes us. As director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University, he focuses largely on patients who experience pathological forgetting, and it is in contrast to their suffering that normal forgetting, which we experience every day, appears in sharp relief. Until recently, most everyone—memory scientists included—believed that forgetting served no purpose. But new research in psychology, neurobiology, medicine, and computer science tells a different story. Forgetting is not a failure of our minds. It’s not even a benign glitch. It is, in fact, good for us—and, alongside memory, it is a required function for our minds to work best. Forgetting benefits our cognitive and creative abilities, emotional well-being, and even our personal and societal health. As frustrating as a typical lapse can be, it’s precisely what opens up our minds to making better decisions, experiencing joy and relationships, and flourishing artistically. From studies of bonobos in the wild to visits with the iconic painter Jasper Johns and the renowned decision-making expert Daniel Kahneman, Small looks across disciplines to put new scientific findings into illuminating context while also revealing groundbreaking developments about Alzheimer’s disease. The next time you forget where you left your keys, remember that a little forgetting does a lot of good.

Remember

Remember
Author: Lisa Genova
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Total Pages: 187
Release: 2021-09-02
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 1838954163

*A New York Times bestseller* 'Using her expertise as a neuroscientist and her gifts as a storyteller, Lisa Genova explains the nuances of human memory' - Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and bestselling author of How The Mind Works 'No one writes more brilliantly about the connections between the brain, the mind, and the heart. Remember is a beautiful, fascinating, and important book about the mysteries of human memory - what it is, how it works, and what happens when it is stolen from us. A scientific and literary treat that you will not soon forget.' - Daniel Gilbert ( New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness) Have you ever felt a crushing wave of panic when you can't for the life of you remember the name of that actor in the movie you saw last week, or you walk into a room only to forget why you went there in the first place? If you're over forty, you're probably not laughing. You might even be worried that these lapses in memory could be an early sign of Alzheimer's or dementia. In reality, for the vast majority of us, these examples of forgetting are completely normal. Why? Because while memory is amazing, it is far from perfect. Our brains aren't designed to remember every name we hear, plan we make or day we experience. Just because your memory sometimes fails doesn't mean it's broken or succumbing to disease. Forgetting is actually part of being human. In Remember, neuroscientist and acclaimed novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them. In explaining whether forgotten memories are temporarily inaccessible or erased forever and why some memories are built to exist for only a few seconds while others can last a lifetime, we're shown the clear distinction between normal forgetting (where you parked your car) and forgetting due to Alzheimer's (that you own a car). Remember shows us how to create a better relationship with our memory - so we no longer have to fear it any more, which can be life-changing.

Why We Forget and How to Remember Better

Why We Forget and How to Remember Better
Author: Andrew E. Budson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 449
Release: 2023
Genre: Brain
ISBN: 019760773X

"One of us (Elizabeth) had the opportunity to conduct research with a gentleman named Henry Molaison (better known by his initials, H.M.1), who had the interior portion of his left and right temporal lobes (the part of your brain next to your temples) removed in 1953 because of epileptic seizures that were difficult to control. From a technical standpoint, the surgical procedures went fine. But, as he recovered, the doctors and researchers soon noticed something very troubling: he was unable to form any new memories. He could read, and talk, and if you were having a brief conversation with him, you would probably not notice anything amiss. But family members would visit and, although he knew who they were, he would have no memory of them coming. New doctors would introduce themselves and the next day (or even the next hour) he did not recall that he had met them. It was then that the doctors understood that, somehow, the removal of those parts of the temporal lobe caused him to become completely amnestic"--

Learning How to Learn

Learning How to Learn
Author: Barbara Oakley, PhD
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2018-08-07
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 052550446X

A surprisingly simple way for students to master any subject--based on one of the world's most popular online courses and the bestselling book A Mind for Numbers A Mind for Numbers and its wildly popular online companion course "Learning How to Learn" have empowered more than two million learners of all ages from around the world to master subjects that they once struggled with. Fans often wish they'd discovered these learning strategies earlier and ask how they can help their kids master these skills as well. Now in this new book for kids and teens, the authors reveal how to make the most of time spent studying. We all have the tools to learn what might not seem to come naturally to us at first--the secret is to understand how the brain works so we can unlock its power. This book explains: Why sometimes letting your mind wander is an important part of the learning process How to avoid "rut think" in order to think outside the box Why having a poor memory can be a good thing The value of metaphors in developing understanding A simple, yet powerful, way to stop procrastinating Filled with illustrations, application questions, and exercises, this book makes learning easy and fun.

Committed to Memory

Committed to Memory
Author: Rebecca Rupp
Publisher:
Total Pages: 331
Release: 1998-12-01
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 9780756753733

Fascinating science blends with engaging prose in this highly entertaining exploration of how memory works-- and how to make it work better. In this extraordinary book, scientist Rebecca Rupp explains how and why memory works the way it does. What are the chemical processes that occur in the brain when we remember--and how do they account for the "absentminded" or "steel trap" qualities in an individual? Rupp also tackles topics that have been the subject of intense public debate. She examines the concepts of repressed and fantasized memories, such as ones of alien abduction: are they the result of horrifying experiences that have been shunted off into the depths of the unconscious? Or are they fantastic constructs of the human mind? Memory decays with awful rapidity, and a vital aspect of the study of memory is its loss. Why does memory change as we grow older? How can we improve our ability to remember, and how can we keep forgetfulness at bay? Committed to Memory features useful memory-improving techniques and tricks to remember essential information. Learn to defeat that common bugbear of memory, the forgetting of proper names; pick up a quick trick for remembering telephone numbers; and find out how to enrich your mind (and impress your friends and colleagues) by memorizing lengthy poems. Tips like these lend a practical edge to this illuminating voyage through a largely uncharted realm. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED . . . ̧ Why you can remember your first date but not what you had for lunch last Tuesday? ̧ What slugs, bugs, and squirrels have to tell us about human memory? ̧ Why we can't remember people's names? ̧ How the smell of pine trees or buttered popcorn can help you remember? ̧ Why dieting may make you forget? ̧ Why practice makes perfect? ̧ How a spell of the moody blues can affect your memory? ̧ Why dreaming may help us to remember?

Remembering and Forgetting in the Age of Technology

Remembering and Forgetting in the Age of Technology
Author: Michelle D. Miller
Publisher:
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2022
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9781952271465

"Concise, nontechnical explanations of major principles of memory and attention, plus ideas for handling technology use in the classroom"--

Think, Learn, Succeed

Think, Learn, Succeed
Author: Dr. Caroline Leaf
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 235
Release: 2018-08-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1493407899

Our thought lives have incredible power over our mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. In fact, our thoughts can either limit us to what we believe we can do or release us to experience abilities well beyond our expectations. When we choose a mindset that extends our abilities rather than placing limits on ourselves, we will experience greater intellectual satisfaction, emotional control, and physical health. The only question is . . . how? Backed by up-to-date scientific research and biblical insight, Dr. Caroline Leaf empowers readers to take control of their thoughts in order to take control of their lives. In this practical book, readers will learn to use - The 5-step Switch on Your Brain Learning Program, to build memory and learn effectively - The Gift Profile, to discover the unique way they process information - The Mindfulness Guide, to optimize their thought life and find their inner resilience Dr. Leaf shows readers how to combine these powerful tools in order to improve memory, learning, cognitive and intellectual performance, work performance, physical performance, relationships, emotional health, and most importantly a meaningful life well lived. Each of us has significant psychological resources at our fingertips that we can use in order to improve our overall well-being. Dr. Leaf shows us how to harness those resources to unlock our hidden potential.

Discovering the Brain

Discovering the Brain
Author: National Academy of Sciences
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 195
Release: 1992-01-01
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309045290

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."

The Memory Thief

The Memory Thief
Author: Lauren Aguirre
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2021-06-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1643136534

FINALIST FOR THE 2022 PEN/E.O. WILSON LITERARY SCIENCE WRITING AWARD "Aguirre writes clearly, concisely, and often cinematically. The book succeeds in providing an accessible yet substantive look at memory science and offering glimpses of the often-challenging process of biomedical investigation.”—Science Sometimes, it’s not the discovery that’s hard – it’s convincing others that you’re right. The Memory Thief chronicles an investigation into a rare and devastating amnesia first identified in a cluster of fentanyl overdose survivors. When a handful of doctors embark on a quest to find out exactly what happened to these marginalized victims, they encounter indifference and skepticism from the medical establishment. But after many blind alleys and occasional strokes of good luck, they go on to prove that opioids can damage the hippocampus, a tiny brain region responsible for forming new memories. This discovery may have implications for millions of people around the world. Through the prism of this fascinating story, Aguirre recounts the obstacles researchers so often confront when new ideas bump up against conventional wisdom. She explains the elegant tricks scientists use to tease out the fundamental mechanisms of memory. And finally, she reveals why researchers now believe that a treatment for Alzheimer’s is within reach.