Human memory is as fascinating as it is fallible.
You arecertainyou got a 730 Verbal on your SATs, but your actual scores say otherwise.
Science is still figuring out all kinds of new things about our brains and memory.
In fact, even if you think your memory is perfect, chances are it isnt.
Why you remember what you remember
Human memory is complicated.
Consider how you remember visual images: It seems straightforwardyou see something, and you remember it.
So, what causes those memories to stick around and not be wiped away from that whiteboard?
Like learning, memory is all about context.
This is why, asThe Atlantic points out, pattern recognition is key.
The same basic process seems to happen with most memories.
The fact of the matter is, were still learning a lot about human memory.
Why we remember certain details over others is still a mystery.
Memories are fallible
Its probably no secret to you that you cant trust your memory.
The reason is pretty simple: our memory isnt always reliable because its about perception.
Most shocking though, is how often were just plain wrong about the details.
But as clear and detailed as these memories feel, psychologists find they are surprisingly inaccurate.
But he was surprised to learn that such footage aired for the first time the following day.
Apparently he wasnt alone: a 2003 study of 569 college students found that 73 percent shared this misperception.
Its not just traumatic events that cause our memories to flake out.
One study inThe Journal of the Association for Psychological Science points out thatsimply recalling memories enhances and distorts them.
Which is to say, when you remember something youre actively changing it.
In part this has a lot to do with a wide variety ofmemory biasesthat color the ways we remember.
Which is to say, trusting your own memory isnt always the best idea.
Its happened to the best of us, and its because were overly confident in our ability to remember.
Knowing that your memory isnt perfect means youll pay more attention to those imperfections in the future.
Physical activitys role in memory isincredibly complicated.
Essentially, exercise improves cognitive functions, and when that happens it enhances our memory storage and retrieval.
Basically, the better shape your brain is in, the better the chances youll remember something.
Sleep does this in two key ways.
Basically, certain stages of sleep are thought to help form different types of memories.
Essentially, its thought that thebetter the sleep you get each night, the better your memory.
The cognitive decline that so often accompanies aging may in part result from chronically poor sleep.
A good nights rest really can improve your memory in the long term.
The good news is thatrebooting your sleep scheduleisnt that hard to do.
If you stick with it, your memory should stay strong.
Try these memorization techniques
In the end, your memory probably isnt as bad as you think.
It just takes some regular maintenance and a little training to keep it in shape.
Once an item is pegged to the list, you’re able to usually recall that information later.
Watch the world closely, form connections between whats happening and what you know.
The more you see, the more accurate your memory will be.
If you might sneak one in during the day, go for it.
A solid nap is an effective tool for improving memory and learning ability.
If a naps not possible, meditation has been shown to work as well.
Memory is weird, and it works in strange ways.
Its unreliable, but we still have to put our trust in it.
Memory is hard to work with, but its still malleable and you might force memories into your brain.
