The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
quantamagazine.org
The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
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Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#2And I can feel this messed-up sense of utility: even though I know in the abstract that real people's names are far more important, my brain experiences noticeable pleasure upon recalling pointless minutiae that it just doesn't for many more useful things. Hello, forty digits of pi, good-bye, python co-routines -- which I read about two days ago and now realize I need to read about again.
Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#3>the brain sorts its memories into different categories that are stored separately, with the neocortex used for reliable generalizations and the hippocampus for exception
Also notable:
>Each time an experience is recalled, there are changes in the connection weights of the network, causing memory elements to get more averaged out. It raises questions about the circumstances under which “eyewitness testimony [could] be protected from bias and influence from repeated onslaughts of queries.”
Eyewitness testimony has been under fire for a long time. IIRC, "flashbulb" memories are perceived to be more well-remembered by those who have them because of the associated emotions, but they're not actually more reliable.
Something that wasn't mentioned in the article, but which it made me wonder about, is conspiracy theories and other magical thinking. Could it be a mis-coding of an exception as something generalizable? That would point to a need for attempting to train people to be more skeptical about new findings.
Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#4I'm (obviously) not sure if this is related, but I know my brain has its own ideas about utility: I can easily recall the names of all seven castaways, and many actor's names in general, but I have to write down the names of people I worked with for two years so I can recall them later. And I can feel this messed-up sense of utility: even though I know in the abstract that real people's names are far more important,…
It is as if nonesense is more fun for the brain and therefore gets remembered better.
Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#5I'm (obviously) not sure if this is related, but I know my brain has its own ideas about utility: I can easily recall the names of all seven castaways, and many actor's names in general, but I have to write down the names of people I worked with for two years so I can recall them later. And I can feel this messed-up sense of utility: even though I know in the abstract that real people's names are far more important,…
Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#6I'm (obviously) not sure if this is related, but I know my brain has its own ideas about utility: I can easily recall the names of all seven castaways, and many actor's names in general, but I have to write down the names of people I worked with for two years so I can recall them later. And I can feel this messed-up sense of utility: even though I know in the abstract that real people's names are far more important,…
Where did you read about python coroutines?
Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#7I'm (obviously) not sure if this is related, but I know my brain has its own ideas about utility: I can easily recall the names of all seven castaways, and many actor's names in general, but I have to write down the names of people I worked with for two years so I can recall them later. And I can feel this messed-up sense of utility: even though I know in the abstract that real people's names are far more important,…
I have observed that it gets better the more often you call people by their name. I.e. practice…
Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#8This seems to be the most concise summary of the finding in the article: >the brain sorts its memories into different categories that are stored separately, with the neocortex used for reliable generalizations and the hippocampus for exception Also notable: >Each time an experience is recalled, there are changes in the connection weights of the network, causing memory elements to get more averaged out. It raises ques…
Ironically, many people who were skeptical of the new mrna vaccines were labelled as conspiracy theorists!
Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#9Re: The usefulness of a memory guides where the brain saves it?
#10This seems to be the most concise summary of the finding in the article: >the brain sorts its memories into different categories that are stored separately, with the neocortex used for reliable generalizations and the hippocampus for exception Also notable: >Each time an experience is recalled, there are changes in the connection weights of the network, causing memory elements to get more averaged out. It raises ques…
That strengthening of memories ideas has lead me to think I should do the same for everything I learn. Just quick bullet points I'm reminded of later.
But I've never done it mostly because it would be too taxing. I often fill in what I did 3 days later not on the day and remembering what I learnt 3 days ago is even harder than remembering what I did.
I've meant to try and build a habit like making a quick note everytime I go to the toilet or have a drink but again, haven't managed it yet.