Forgetting, Memory, construction, and improving memory Module 26

Forgetting It wouldn’t be good to remember everything. Too much clutter! Two-Track Mind Anterograde amnesia – can recall past, but can’t remember new things. *Can learn the way to the bathroom or job skills, but no conscious memory of these “new” things – automatic processing remained intact – though explicit memory did not. Retrograde amnesia – cannot recall past but can make new memories.

Encoding Failure – we don’t remember everything – many times the details are not important so we don’t pay too close attention. Age may impact the time it takes to encode – may explain age-related memory decay. Storage Decay – Even if we do encode information, we may not be able to remember it. Forgetting levels off – if you remember 3 years later, you will probably remember it 25 years later. Retrieval Decay – tip of the tongue – information not important to us or not rehearsed – more difficult to retrieve.

Interference – sometimes the file drawers in my brain are too full – where do I put the new information? Do I lose the new information because there was no place to put it? (proactive interference)(forward-acting) OR Do I forget old information because I replace it with the new information (retroactive interference)(backward-acting) from SHERLOCK: http://www.salon.com/2014/02/09/its_not_so_elementary_the_secrets_of_sherlocks_mind_palace/ There are also a couple of references in Elementary and Sherlock about the brain’s capacity and uncluttering the mind by purging – but I could not find them. If you know of these references and find them, please let me know.

Motivated forgetting Is it because we repress the information to protect self- image or minimize anxiety? We may try to forget painful experiences – it doesn’t work. We can forget neutral information but not emotionally charged experiences/thoughts.

Information acquired after an event alters our memory of the event. Every time we “replay” event it becomes a little bit modified. Misinformation can change what we remember. This can impact our attitudes and behaviors. Did we really go on a hot air balloon ride? Yes – don’t you remember? (after altered photos of event)

Source Amnesia I recognize that person, but I don’t know where I know them from… Source misattribution (plagiarism) Déjà vu (already seen) Many times we have seen the thing, but it was too quick or didn’t go into our conscious memory or long- term memory. Just not important or relevant. Familiarity

How do I know if the memory is real? Faulty eye-witness identifications (79% of 200 convicts later exonerated by DNA evidence) YIKES! Hindsight bias – how people feel today tends to be how they recall they have always felt… Children’s Eyewitness Recall – children are easily impressed – be careful of suggestive questioning – psychologists and children cannot separate real memories from false memories – non-leading questions are vital. Neutral words, no suggestion, talk to them immediately – before other adults have influenced them