Editor’s note: The podcast that chases life with Dr. Sanjay Gobta explores the medical sciences behind some of the secrets of big and small life. You can listen to the episodes here.
(CNN) – Most of us are aware of the frustration of forgetfulness – whether it is struggling with a word on the tip of the tongue, exacerbating important elements such as keys or glasses, or even sabotage the reason you reach a room.
How can we do anything but forget – especially while we are exposed to an extinguishing match of information every minute of vigilance, between our lives in the material world and what comes to us electronically via smartphones, televisions, computers and more?
In his latest book, Dr. Charan Ranganath wrote in his latest book, his latest book, from his latest book, “The average American is exposed to an estimated 34 GB – or 11.8 hours of information – every day, Dr. Charan Ranganith wrote in his last book,” wrote Dr. Charan Ranganath – or 11.8 hours of information – every day, Dr. Charan Ranganith wrote in his last book, “Why do we remember: Opening the power of memory to stick to what matters“This number came from 2009 report By California University Information Industry Center, San Diego.
“The last time I looked at the matter, the appreciation increased more than that,” Ranganath told CNN. Ranganath directs Dynamic memory laboratory At the University of California, Davis, where he was also a professor of psychology and neuroscience.
Far from remembering all this information, he said that the science of memory indicates that humans are designed to forget. In fact, Ranjanat’s book refers to the work of the cognitive psychologist George Miller, who has ended Paper 1956 We can only keep seven elements (plus or minus two) at a time. (Ranganath Books subsequent research shows that the number is closest to three or four elements.)
“I think one of the misconceptions there … is that we are supposed to take everything about this around us,” he said. “In fact, our brains really work on the principle of economics: obtaining a little information as much as possible and making the largest amount of this information.”
You can learn more about the nature of the memory by listening to the full episode of the podcast here.
“It is all about this economy and the ability to use interest as a large candidate, to be able to focus on the most important things,” he said.
He said: “Sometimes the things you expect, and sometimes the things that violate your expectations – this is the most meaningful place.” “But this also means that we sometimes miss things, and we end up frustrating because our interest was directed at the wrong place in the wrong time.”
Improving memory is not related to trying to enter more information into your head. “The thing that I like to say is: Don’t try to remember more, remember the best,” said Ranjanat. “Sometimes a better remember means saving less.”
Ranganath said that one of the ways to do this is a process called a process called – or to collect many things to one. We remember the alphabet in this way in addition to our social security number and the names of the Great Lakes (the Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior). By collecting these elements, you can reduce the number of things you should remember: instead of 26 separate elements, the alphabet becomes one.
Likewise, memory athletes – who compete to save the largest possible number of PI numbers or arrange a set of cards – “develop strategies that allow them to dismantle the information they are trying to remember in this larger structure so that 10 things can become one.”
What can you do if you are struggling with forgetfulness? Below are the five Ranganath tricks to help form memories of important events. All you have to do is remember him “call the doctor!” He said via email.
M for the sake of meaning
Attach what you want to remember with something important.
He said: “You can remember information like names if you can link them to the information that has meaning to you.”
For example, if you are a fan of Greek myth CharonThe Ferryman of the Underworld, which transports the souls of the dead across Styx at a price.
And (you can) imagine me to transfer people via River of the deadHe said.
Such live images can help you remember the name.
E is a mistake
Test yourself. Even if it made a mistake, Ranjan said that experience and error are one of the best ways to remember something.
He said: “If you are learning a new name or a foreign language word, then guess what the name might be or guess about the meaning of the word.”
When you learn the answer, “the brain can” adjust this memory to ensure that it is closely related to the correct answer and less vulnerable to the competing answers. “
D is for excellence
Make it a pop music.
“It is easier to find a hot pink note after that on an office full of yellow observations, it is easier to find memories with features (emerges) from other memories,” said Ranganath.
For example, “When you put your keys, take a moment to have details like sound or a unique visual signal.”
He said that it will come a long way towards helping you remember where you put it, and you are scrambling in a feverish way to get out of the door.
I am important
Take advantage of the fact that the brain may adapt to the moments of science that are important.
“We reserve the memories of important events – in the biological sense,” said Ranjanat. “When we have rewarding, frightening or embarrassing experiments, chemicals such as dopamine, nordrenaline or serotonin are released, which enhances the plasticity.” These nervous tankers help consolidate the experience in your memory a little more.
Curiosity can also play a role.
“We have found that curiosity has a similar effect on memory,” he said, noting that curiosity activates “the areas of pregnancy in the brain in the brain” and enhances learning.
“So, before you learn, you feel curious about the topic!” He said.
C for context
Use your senses to do some time to travel.
“Our memories of events, or accidental memories are linked to a place and when the event happens.” “For this reason, I hear a song that was played during the summer outside in the kidney or the smell of the food that your grandmother used to make it immediately in time.”
He said: “If you are trying to remember a previous event, imagine yourself in this place and time – how you felt, and what you were thinking about, scenes and sounds of the place – and you will find yourself withdrawing a lot.”
We hope these five tips will help you remember more and save less. Listen to the full episode here. Next Tuesday joined us in a new episode of The Charass Life.
Sofía Sanchez of CNN Audio contributed to this report.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account on Cnn.com
