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Description

Recent findings reveal fascinating information about memory formation. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found out our minds retrieve memories by reconstructing a past experience in reverse order. A separate study by the California Institute of Technology said that neurons in our brain are key to long-term memory.

Meanwhile, psychologist Daniel Kahneman and brothers Chip and Dan Heath explain that people don’t remember all the details of their past and instead remember “snapshots” of events.

Kahneman and the Heaths theorize that our recollection of an event is influenced by what we felt during the “peaks” or most intense points, whether positive or negative, of that occurrence and the ending of that experience. They add that people recall these “highlights” more than the actual duration of the event.

The sibling professors and authors say that “peak” moments are characterized by one or more of four things: connection such as weddings and reunions, pride or moments of courage or achievement, elevation or times of intense happiness that come with pleasure and surprise, and insight or moments that give us clarity about ourselves and the world.

Meanwhile, Kahneman added that people have two “selves” when it comes to memory: the experiencing self and the narrating self. Our experiencing self is aware of what is happening to us moment by moment while our narrating self gathers and forms a story about the highlights that remain in our head. It is the narrating self that edits and interprets events.

Studies showed that people tended to give a positive evaluation of an event if there was a segment of decreased discomfort to a generally unpleasant or painful experience. On the other hand, negative endings can turn a generally happy event such as a date, vacation, or sports tournament into a bad memory.

To retain good memories, psychologists suggest that we “reframe” our perspective of an experience by not dwelling on the negative incidents within the longer event.

For example, we can find the positive aspect of waiting in line, such as enjoying the delicious meal afterwards or being able to share the meal with someone special or a person you’ve wanted to see for a long time. We can also focus on something positive at the end of an experience if we cannot do something to make an activity end on a high note.

“Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door.” – Saul Bellow

Description

Recent findings reveal fascinating information about memory formation. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found out our minds retrieve memories by reconstructing a past experience in reverse order. A separate study by the California Institute of Technology said that neurons in our brain are key to long-term memory.

Meanwhile, psychologist Daniel Kahneman and brothers Chip and Dan Heath explain that people don’t remember all the details of their past and instead remember “snapshots” of events.

Kahneman and the Heaths theorize that our recollection of an event is influenced by what we felt during the “peaks” or most intense points, whether positive or negative, of that occurrence and the ending of that experience. They add that people recall these “highlights” more than the actual duration of the event.

The sibling professors and authors say that “peak” moments are characterized by one or more of four things: connection such as weddings and reunions, pride or moments of courage or achievement, elevation or times of intense happiness that come with pleasure and surprise, and insight or moments that give us clarity about ourselves and the world.

Meanwhile, Kahneman added that people have two “selves” when it comes to memory: the experiencing self and the narrating self. Our experiencing self is aware of what is happening to us moment by moment while our narrating self gathers and forms a story about the highlights that remain in our head. It is the narrating self that edits and interprets events.

Studies showed that people tended to give a positive evaluation of an event if there was a segment of decreased discomfort to a generally unpleasant or painful experience. On the other hand, negative endings can turn a generally happy event such as a date, vacation, or sports tournament into a bad memory.

To retain good memories, psychologists suggest that we “reframe” our perspective of an experience by not dwelling on the negative incidents within the longer event.

For example, we can find the positive aspect of waiting in line, such as enjoying the delicious meal afterwards or being able to share the meal with someone special or a person you’ve wanted to see for a long time. We can also focus on something positive at the end of an experience if we cannot do something to make an activity end on a high note.

“Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door.” – Saul Bellow