The benefits of *forgetting*

[Nadme]

From The Wall Street Journal. A short article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1226...?mod=yhoofront

After the past 2-1/2 years I can think of a few "things" I am definitely forgetting.

[Fazor]

All the words in quotes made me "curious". Alas, they weren't insinuating anything more "spicey".

Anyway, interesting article. I'm not suprised by it, however. While I'm not a fan of likening the brain to, say, a computer hard-drive with limited space, it is obvious that there would be some very big problems with never forgetting even the smallest thing.

One of our great advantages as human beings is our ability to think forewardly; reasoning and "predicting" what will happen in the future (no, I don't mean Rasputin type things, but we know that metal gets red when it's heated, therefore if we see glowing metal we should probably not touch it). I wonder if the people like the lady mentioned in the article (with the "autobigraphical" memory) have any problems thinking in the future, or if both processes can co-exist with the only draw back of being "haunted" by everything you've ever experienced.

[Nadme]

Nothing spicy inferred in my " ", lol. Just a weird and unexpected bad-luck streak which ironically began with a person I'd have least expected it from. But that's another story.

I wonder if the people like the lady mentioned in the article (with the "autobigraphical" memory) have any problems thinking in the future, or if both processes can co-exist with the only draw back of being "haunted" by everything you've ever experienced.

Oh gosh...yeah. Last evening we watched a History Channel special regarding the memory, particularly photographic versus extreme short-term. A man was featured who 20 years ago suffered a tumor near or on the hippocampus; it was removed but had done its damage: A former accomplished music composer, since then he's left with roughly 30 seconds of memory. However, he recovered with speech perfectly intact and fluent, and can still read sheet music and play piano with the same vigor and expertise as before.

The brain is our other "final frontier."

I'm glad to forget some things. Most folks are I suppose.

[NEOWatcher]

What? could you repeat that?

Anyway...I'm thinking of Gumball Rally when he rips the mirror off the car.

"Vahts behint me, shes a no important"

[PraedSt]

I read about this a few years back. I wish I'd remembered:

In one famous test, when viewers are asked to count how many times a basketball changes hands in a video, roughly half don't notice that a gorilla walks through the scene.

[LotusExcelle]

I'm kinda of half-posteriored making an attempt at writing a story involving memory issues. I wrote a really really short version of it before but anyway - I have some memory issues myself.

I have some memory issues too.

Also I have some memory issues.

[Fazor]

I read about this a few years back. I wish I'd remembered:

Haha. I'd like to think I would remember that, as putting random things in random scenes is something I find particularly funny (which has a lot to do with why I swear Spongebob is a great show ).

[orionjim]

I read about this a few years back. I wish I'd remembered:

In one famous test, when viewers are asked to count how many times a basketball changes hands in a video, roughly half don't notice that a gorilla walks through the scene.

You can find that video here:
http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/grafs/demos/15.html

The key is to get someone to count the number of times the ball is passed from a player in white to another player in white.

Note: It requires Java installed and is about 6meg.

When I think about forgetting things I always remember this:

"Every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my head! Like that time I took a wine tasting course, and after, I couldn't remember how to drive."

--Homer Simpson

Jim

[ravens_cry]

I wonder what's the difference from a reconstructed memory and a recorded memory. A recorded memory is when you remember something so exactly it's like a recording of the event. Other times it feels more like your brain is reconstructing it from fragments.

[Fazor]

Other times it feels more like your brain is reconstructing it from fragments.

I think that's what happens more often than not. It's certianly more efficient; instead of "recording" the grociery store every time you go, you just remember it once and reference that memory each time you go.

And that's also why "eyewitness testimony" is such a tricky thing to deal with; rarely do we remember every detail of every event--but when the memory suddenly has some importance (like when you're asked to testify) our minds try to fill in the gaps ... often inaccurately.

[PraedSt]

You can find that video here:
http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/grafs/demos/15.html

The key is to get someone to count the number of times the ball is passed from a player in white to another player in white.

That's the one!. Thanks.

And that's also why "eyewitness testimony" is such a tricky thing to deal with; rarely do we remember every detail of every event--but when the memory suddenly has some importance (like when you're asked to testify) our minds try to fill in the gaps ... often inaccurately.

Yeah, that's true. Eyewitnesses are often unreliable. Makes you wonder about historical justice...

[Whirlpool]

From The Wall Street Journal. A short article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1226...?mod=yhoofront

After the past 2-1/2 years I can think of a few "things" I am definitely forgetting.

I have a Selected Memory, means I remember the things and events that I chose to remember , and Forget those that I chose to forget .

[Argos]

You folks might like to read Jorge Luis Borges´ "Funes, The Memorious".

[grav]

I like to forget about some things, like movies I've watched. That way, I can watch the good ones again in a year or two. The only problem there is I also often forget which ones were good. I guess I should label the ones I've bought with a rating so I'll know, if I remember to do that.

I have a semi-long term photographic memory for things that are spoken and some that is written. But it seems to come at a cost. I cannot remember names or faces sometimes hardly at all, even if the name comes in the middle of a sentence which I remember word for word except for the name. Those memories must be stored somewhere I barely have access to or something. I can remember an entire scene and how everything was positioned and where people were standing when someone is talking, but the memories of people just look like silhouettes to me much of the time. All I can usually remember is the color of their hair and some general features. If I've seen the same person quite a few times in the same environment, I can usually remember them eventually, but take them out of that environment and I might recognize them somewhat but I can't place them until I hear their voice or see some general mannerisms that helps me identify them.

I expect a lot of people have nearly this same problem, though. I didn't really think it was much of a problem for me until I started having people walk up to me on jobs (hanging commercial wallpaper), calling me by name, and talking to me like they've known me for years, and I have no idea who they are. That happens to me at least once a week now. I must have known them from another job, I guess, but the jobs all tend to run together for me, running back and forth between them so much, and I forget about them as soon as they're over so I can concentrate on the next one.

As far as remembering things like groceries and what I need to do during the day, if there aren't many and I don't keep a list, I just remember the number of things I need to do. For instance, so I don't forget anything, there are five things I need to do while getting dressed for work and five things I need to do before I walk out the door, so I run over each list before I step out and count them out on my right hand. I usually associate certain feelings to important things as well. That feeling usually creeps back up a few times during the day to remind me. So even if I forget what it was I was supposed to do, I don't usually forget that I was supposed to do something. At that point I can just run through categories of things to do or buy - groceries, hygeine, household, automotive, tools, etc - and find the feeling that I have associated with one or more of those groups, and usually it'll come to me. I also tie in particular feelings with certain steps that must be performed when working through some physics and mathematics so I don't forget.

[grav]

Dang. I just realized something when writing my last post. One must be particularly careful about what feelings or events they tie memories to. The feeling for things I need to do during the day is tied in with an almost anxious feeling, since I might feel that a few times during the day, especially when I'm working. It's generally now tied in with a "to-do" list at this point, which actually helps the feeling subside when I'm going over it, unless what I need to do causes more anxiety. But in even just writing that last post and now this one, I almost feel an anxiety attack coming on, even though I rarely get stressed since I tend to keep my life pretty simple, and maybe that's why. So apparently, it goes both ways, and that's not a good thing. I have noticed that whenever I try to think of things I need to do each day, I start to get anxious for no apparent reason. It makes me feel like whatever task I need to do is ten times worse than it is. I'll need to find different feelings to associate with them, then, like I do with physics and mathematics. Those feelings are enlightening and almost spiritual, which is probably part of the reason I enjoy it so much. Of course, those feelings were already there, so they are the most common to associate with anyway.

[Gillianren]

I have a Selected Memory, means I remember the things and events that I chose to remember , and Forget those that I chose to forget .

[nitpick] Selective. [/nitpick]

[NEOWatcher]

[nitpick] Selective. [/nitpick]

Or, the insults about "when they were handing out brains..." is based on reality.

[ravens_cry]

Another good reason for the gradual degradation of memory t is that it provides context and a sense of time. If you remember everything the same, how do you know if something is a threat or not,le? You remember Thurg being your best friend, your implacable enemy, and your accomplice. What is he today? You don't know , you remember it all the same. Are the berries ripe yet? Is it dangerous to go into this area, or have the lions moved on?

[PraedSt]

Smell is a powerful trigger for memories. Just thought you'd like to know.

[Gsquare]

Does studying REALLY improve your memory.?

Let's see...

The more you study, the more you know;
the more you know, the more there is to forget;
the more there IS to forget, the more you DO forget;
the more you do forget, the less you know...
so why study?!

Hehe...

G^2

[peter eldergill]

Gsquare

You didn't happen to get your tag name from the show "Undergrads" did you?

Just curious

Pete

[Whirlpool]

[nitpick] Selective. [/nitpick]

Thanks Gillian .

Now I must not forget that but will try to forget something I wanted to forget now.

Gotta forget this forum for awhile .

[hhEb09'1]

Another good reason for the gradual degradation of memory t is that it provides context and a sense of time. If you remember everything the same, how do you know if something is a threat or not,le? You remember Thurg being your best friend, your implacable enemy, and your accomplice. What is he today? You don't know , you remember it all the same. Are the berries ripe yet? Is it dangerous to go into this area, or have the lions moved on?

If you remember everything the same, why are you assuming you forget the calendar?

[ravens_cry]

If you remember everything the same, why are you assuming you forget the calendar?

Humanity didn't always have cameras.

[hhEb09'1]

Humanity didn't always have cameras.

Good point.