Point 23: Memory Takes A Lot of Mental Resources

The Fragility of Memory

• While we are consciously aware of 40 out of the 40 billion sensory inputs we receive every second; to process, store, and remember information takes a lot of mental resources and is a process that can be easily disrupted.
• Recency effect is when items or ideas that were last heard are remembered clearer than those that came first.
• Suffix effect is when the last items heard are harder to remember than the first because they were preceded by irrelevant information.

Interesting Things About Our Memory

• You can store concrete words like desk or rock in long-term memory more easily than abstract words like guilt or justice. You can also remember things that you see better than words.
• Studies have shown that our brains remain active while we sleep as they are essentially deciding what new memories to keep and which to forget.
• Rhymes are easier to remember due to the activation of one verse more easily triggering the next.
• Can you improve your memory while you sleep? (Embed)
• Caption: take a look at this video showing memory working and improving in sleep