Comments on: How Quickly We Forget: The Transience of Memory http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php Understand your mind with the science of psychology - Mon, 04 May 2009 10:30:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kat http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php/comment-page-1#comment-23586 Kat Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:41:55 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-the-transience-of-memory.php#comment-23586 Thank you for the article. I would like to see memories broken down even further. I believe I lost non-declarative memories due to PTSD. I didn't loose factual memories (distorted or not), but lost what is often termed as the auto pilot of the mind. In other words I was fully aware that I should never leave my purse in a restaurant, but I did it time and time again. I even had to and was able to make the decision not to carry it anymore. So I knew I shouldn’t, didn’t want to, feared the consequences and yet it was years before any action resulted. I have found very little “good” information on this type of memory loss and would love to see more articles. Oh yeah, couldn’t carry a purse but could type 70 wpm. Thank you for the article. I would like to see memories broken down even further. I believe I lost non-declarative memories due to PTSD. I didn't loose factual memories (distorted or not), but lost what is often termed as the auto pilot of the mind. In other words I was fully aware that I should never leave my purse in a restaurant, but I did it time and time again. I even had to and was able to make the decision not to carry it anymore. So I knew I shouldn’t, didn’t want to, feared the consequences and yet it was years before any action resulted. I have found very little “good” information on this type of memory loss and would love to see more articles. Oh yeah, couldn’t carry a purse but could type 70 wpm.

]]> By: Jen http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php/comment-page-1#comment-23246 Jen Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:19:08 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-the-transience-of-memory.php#comment-23246 Forgetting something like a book you read 13 years ago is not that hard to explain. Your memories are stored in brain tissue. If you access it frequently (say you discuss this book many times over the years) that brain tissue will be maintained, the fibers strengthened. If it goes untouched for over a decade, the tissue loses its elasticity like an old rubber band and the memory is all but gone. Your brain won't waste efforts maintaining every single thing you ever learned, and the things you never reach for even once are the first memories you lose. Forgetting something like a book you read 13 years ago is not that hard to explain. Your memories are stored in brain tissue. If you access it frequently (say you discuss this book many times over the years) that brain tissue will be maintained, the fibers strengthened. If it goes untouched for over a decade, the tissue loses its elasticity like an old rubber band and the memory is all but gone. Your brain won't waste efforts maintaining every single thing you ever learned, and the things you never reach for even once are the first memories you lose.

]]> By: irakolvenik http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php/comment-page-1#comment-21512 irakolvenik Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:39:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-the-transience-of-memory.php#comment-21512 I have done myself the experiment by Peterson and Peterson (and other ones...) and I can say it is quite difficult. The explanation they gave is that the information about the three letters is erased from our working memory (short term memory) by the counting task, so it cannot consolide in long term memory and disappears. It is not only time that makes our memories go away, it is also interference. I have done myself the experiment by Peterson and Peterson (and other ones...) and I can say it is quite difficult. The explanation they gave is that the information about the three letters is erased from our working memory (short term memory) by the counting task, so it cannot consolide in long term memory and disappears. It is not only time that makes our memories go away, it is also interference.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php/comment-page-1#comment-21209 Anonymous Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:30:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-the-transience-of-memory.php#comment-21209 What book? What book?

]]> By: HoverHell http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php/comment-page-1#comment-21146 HoverHell Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:48:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-the-transience-of-memory.php#comment-21146 I'd mention that memory choses itself what to remember, and what to retain over time, and that cannot be controlled consciously.<br />For example, memories that were used are usually better retained.<br />Also, in mentioned experiment, three-letter sequence might be well memorized through some associations (don't know how that method is called, though, but it should be somewhat known).<br /><br />P.S. "excuse my bad english"... I'd mention that memory choses itself what to remember, and what to retain over time, and that cannot be controlled consciously.
For example, memories that were used are usually better retained.
Also, in mentioned experiment, three-letter sequence might be well memorized through some associations (don't know how that method is called, though, but it should be somewhat known).

P.S. "excuse my bad english"...

]]> By: zenya http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php/comment-page-1#comment-21138 zenya Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:57:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-the-transience-of-memory.php#comment-21138 Great article. Thanks!<br /><br />The beginning of it reminded me of a little story about Leo Tolstoy mentioned by Nabokov in his Lectures on Russian literature:<br /><br />Tolstoy in his later years once took a random book from his bookshelf and started reading it. The book turned out to be amazing! He couldn't stop reading it for a while. He then took a look at the tiltle and was greatly surprised as he read "Anna Karenina". Great article. Thanks!

The beginning of it reminded me of a little story about Leo Tolstoy mentioned by Nabokov in his Lectures on Russian literature:

Tolstoy in his later years once took a random book from his bookshelf and started reading it. The book turned out to be amazing! He couldn't stop reading it for a while. He then took a look at the tiltle and was greatly surprised as he read "Anna Karenina".

]]> By: BobG http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-transience-of.php/comment-page-1#comment-21136 BobG Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:19:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/01/how-quickly-we-forget-the-transience-of-memory.php#comment-21136 An excerpt from "Forgetfulness" by Billy Collins:<br /><br />The name of the author is the first to go<br />followed obediently by the title, the plot,<br />the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel<br />which suddenly becomes one you have never read,<br />never even heard of,<br /><br />as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor<br />decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,<br />to a little fishing village where there are no phones.<br /><br />I encourage readers to seek out the poem in its entirety. A humorous musing on the transience of memory. An excerpt from "Forgetfulness" by Billy Collins:

The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,

as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

I encourage readers to seek out the poem in its entirety. A humorous musing on the transience of memory.

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