Memory and the Human Lifespan

by Steve Joordens

"Memory and the Human Lifespan" are twenty-four lectures by Professor Steve Joordens of the University of Toronto Scarborough, who has been repeatedly honored as both teacher and researcher. The lectures lead a startling voyage into the human mind, explaining not only how the various aspects of your memory operate, but the impact memory has on your daily experience of life.

The various memory systems provide the continuity of consciousness that allows the concept of "you" to make sense, creating the ongoing narrative that makes your life truly yours. Without those systems and the overall experience of memory they make possible, you would have no context for the most crucial decisions of your life. You would have to make—without the benefit of experience and knowledge—the decisions that determine not only your quality of life, but your very survival. And your ability to learn, or even to form the personality that makes you unique, would similarly be set adrift.

Course Lecture Titles
24 Lectures, 30 minutes per lecture

1.Memory Is a Party
Using the metaphor of a party whose “guests” include the different components of the complex interactions that make up memory, Professor Joordens introduces you to several kinds of memory—including episodic, semantic, and procedural—to arrive at an initial understanding of the variety of processes at work in human “memory.”

2. The Ancient “Art of Memory”
Techniques to embed and retrieve memories more easily—so-called mnemonic strategies—date back at least to classical Greece. See how one such technique—the Method of Loci—can help improve the episodic memory you depend on to recall a group of items such as grocery or to-do lists.

3. Rote Memorization and a Science of Forgetting
Is a mnemonic strategy always the most useful? Examine rote memorization and how it differs from mnemonics. Also, get an introduction to the work of Hermann Ebbinghaus, whose 19th-century experiments in remembering and forgetting marked the first scientific examination of memory.

4. Sensory Memory—Brief Traces of the Past
Begin a deeper discussion of the different kinds of memory, beginning with sensory memory and how its brief retentive power lets you switch from one stimulus to another—and even gives you your sense of “the present moment.” Here, the focus is on iconic (or visual) memory and its auditory counterpart, echoic memory.

5. The Conveyor Belt of Working Memory
Plunge into the mental processes that allow you to work with information, often with the goal of solving a problem. You learn that these processes can also be used to keep information briefly “in mind,” though they require effort and are prone to interference.

6. Encoding—Our Gateway into Long-Term Memory
How does information make its way from your temporary working memory into long-term memory so you can access it again when you need it? This introduction to encoding explains the process and offers useful tips for improving your own recall.

7. Episodic and Semantic Long-Term Memory
Strengthen your grasp of how these two key memory systems function. You explore the relationship between them with analogies that range from the job requirements of London taxi drivers to the famed “holo-deck” of the Star Trek television series.

8. The Secret Passage—Implicit Memory
Encounter still another category of memory—a way in which your experiences can enter long-term memory without the kind of “effortful encoding” discussed earlier. You learn why this sort of memory creation is vitally important, yet also unreliable as a substitute for conscious effort.

9. From Procedural Memory to Habit
In this lecture, you see that your memory for procedures is useful not only in the “muscle memory” of physical skills, but also in cognitive processes. Also, learn about constructivist learning, in which the explicit structure of a procedure—which is usually taught verbally—instead is learned implicitly during exploratory practice.

10. When Memory Systems Battle—Habits vs. Goals
What happens when implicit or procedural memories become so powerful they seize control? In this examination of the tenacity of habits, learn how and why habits are formed and what steps might be useful in changing them, or at least regaining control.

11. Sleep and the Consolidation of Memories
Does sleep play a role in strengthening memories of your experiences during the day? Gain a sense of the latest research about a subject that is difficult to study as you explore the relationship between sleep and memory, including the possible link between specific sleep stages and specific kinds of memory.

12. Infant and Early Childhood Memory
How does the maturation of memory fit into a child’s overall brain development? Gain invaluable and surprising insights into the month-by-month and year-by-year development of a child’s capacity for memory, beginning ...

Genres: Science, Psychology, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help, Neuroscience, Biology

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Dr. Steve Joordens is Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he has taught since 1995. He earned a doctorate in cognitive psychology from the University of Waterloo.

Honored repeatedly as both teacher and researcher, Professor Joordens is on the cutting edge of the emerging field of cognitive prosthetics to assist both learning-disabled patients as well as patients with Alzheimer's disease. He is a frequent speaker at professional conferences, where he consistently earns "best in session" honors.

In addition to publishing many articles on human memory, consciousness, and attention in empirical and theoretical psychology journals, Professor Joordens earned both the Premier's Research Excellence Award and the National Technology Innovation Award—the latter for the creation of an Internet-based educational platform that supports the development of critical thinking and clear communication skills in any size classroom. His teaching skills have also earned him repeated honors, including the President's Teaching Award, his university's highest teaching honor; the Scarborough College Students' Union Best Professor Award; a provincially sponsored Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award; and four nominations for Television Ontario's Best Lecturer Competition, which include two Top 10 finishes.

Reviews

[David Rubenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I tried from the "Great Courses" series. I've got to say, this one is wonderful. The author is a great speaker, and he speaks from experience. He is a professor and a researcher in the subject.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is the many types of memory. I had thought that there was only short-term and long-term memory. From this book, I learned of several other types of memory that are not self-evident. It was quite eye-opening for me! I deeply enjoyed the metaphors that are used to explain the different types of memory. This makes it quite easy to understand the concepts.

I especially appreciated the revelation that after controlling for certain variables, aging is not correlated with memory deterioration!

Such a fine course. Highly recommended!

[Ivy-Mabel Fling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining and informative course, covering many aspects of memory: it is not overly scientific and thus accessible to non-specialists. I enjoyed it very much although there were definitely some theories with which I did not agree. It would be suitable for people with a general interest in the workings of memory and what can go wrong with it but who have not studied the brain in depth.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice Memory 101 course. It's definitely for the non neuroscientists. Basic understanding of how memory works and what can go wrong with memory.

[Clif Hostetler · Rating 4 out of 5]

These twenty-four lectures begin with a summary description of the processes at work in human "memory" by defining episodic, semantic and procedural memory. It was interesting to compare the descriptions of these components of memory with my own experiences of dealing with my own memory or lack of memory. After a couple lectures covering strategies to improve memory and discussion of rote memorization and the science of forgetting the lectures proceed to a deeper discussion of the different kinds of memory and how they function in more detail.

Then in lectures 11, 12, and 13 the subjects of (1) Sleep and the consolidation of memories, (2) Infant and early childhood memory and (3) Animal cognition and memory were covered. I was particularly impressed to learn that chimpanzees can beat the pants off humans (figuratively speaking) in a game of memory. A dramatic illustration of this can be seen at THIS LINK . Chimpanzees simply have better short term memory than humans. I don't mind conceding that dogs have a better sense of smell, but it hurts to lose to a chimp in a game of memory. (Some peer reviewers have questioned the video.)

The lectures then cover the various parts of the brain and their functions. There is a lecture describing recent attempts to model neural network brain functions with computer models. Another lecture discusses what can be learned from patients who have suffered some form of brain injury.

One lecture focuses on Alzheimer's Disease which is one of our most frightening diseases for both the sufferer and their family and caregivers. The lecture series is rounded out by discussions of sensations of "familiarity", déjà vu, recovered memories, false memories, and effects of aging.

In a final discussion of ways to preserve memories, I particularly noticed one recommendation that fit well with what I already do. That is to use writing and conversation with others reinforce things learned. That's what I'm doing when I write these reviews on Goodreads.com. Acquaintances of mine already know that in our conversations I often refer to interesting things I recently learned in things that I've read.

[Amirography · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Professor Joordens stole my heart again. His book and courses are well expressed and lovely. I started getting interested in psychology as a discipline​ by his introduction to psychology course on Coursera. And since then, he never disappointed me on my expectation to be dazzled by his great representation of information that looks as though they are basic, but end up as a life changing experience, different to specific needs of any.

[Troy Blackford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly wide-ranging exploration of a topic I didn't know enough, going in, to suspect of being so deep. I learned about the various types of memory, how memory gets encoded, and the way we use our working memory to solve problems. Also talks about problems with memory, and ways you can improve your encoding. Touches on a lot of other psychology and neuroscience. Good stuff!

[Dennis Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memory and the Human Lifespan by Steve Joordens is a fantastic course, well worth your time to listen to. His presentation is clear and intuitive, and the subject matter is interesting. The framework for understanding memory whereby it is subdivided into different forms of memory is well taken, and there are a few useful - if unevenly so - tips on improving your memory. His lecture on memory and aging was very useful, as was his on episodic memory. The rundown on that last bit is that when we remember things, we are not really reliving the past, but recreating it with details that the brain pulls. We can remember things one way, and then again in quite another fashion. False memories can be created if you provide the brain with enough info that it will pull together an experience, but this also plays an important part in explaining why stories change subtly whenever we retell them or remember them. New details come to mind, while other details get lost. Its all pretty interesting stuff, and some of it can be invaluable to understanding how memory works.

91/100

[David Pulliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the complexity this class opened up on the nature of memory. It is much more then just thinking through the distinction between declarative and procedural memory. Don't remember much else.

[Darian Onaciu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading to better understand how the brain processes information.
It's much more about why we are who we are from the perspective of memory processes.
I'll probably update the review after the second time I go through the audio-book.

Highly recommended to everyone!

[Skip (David) Everling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating topic as ever. The course is well structured and informative, but at an introductory level. Having read other books on memory recently, much of the material is still fresh in my mind and is therefore probably swaying my assessment of the material as introductory, but nonetheless I did wish Joordens would occasionally venture deeper with opinionated asides on the most progressive ideas, at least to stimulate further thought outside of common theory.

Overall I'd highly recommend the course, particularly if you want to learn more about human memory but don't know where to begin.

[24 lectures, 30 minutes each]

[Howdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joordens is an engaging lecturer, and the course — pitched at a freshman level, just right for me on this topic — was really interesting. The main takeaway is that we have several different systems for memory. Some of the most important are working (or short-term) memory; semantic memory, which holds facts about the world; episodic memory, which is what we usually mean by "memory", and which holds long term memories about events; and procedural memory, which is where learned muscle coordination lives. There are many others, too.

[Lenny Husen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! One of the best Great Courses I've ever listened to. This lecturer is superb. He is well-organized, funny, enthusiastic, intelligent and thoughtful and completely likeable.
I feel like a better person for having listened to this on several levels. Looking forward to hearing it again in a year or two.
This is truly 5 stars.

[Kadri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great content, especially for someone who often ponders about memory and its diversity. I especially enjoyed the chapters about the reconstructive memory & false memories, and the last concluding chapter about whether and how do we want to improve our memory/memories.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff.

[Feng Ouyang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lecture about the science of memory. It is well-organized and well-delivered. It is helpful to people who are interested in learning about the brain and in making their own memory more effective.
The lecture started by introducing different types of memory. These memory types work in different fashions and use different parts of the brain. These distinctions are very important in the discussion, and unfortunately, are also missing in most of the “memory improvement” self-help books.
• Episodic Memory: memory about particular incidences and experiences. This is a type of long term memory.
• Semantic Memory: memory about facts but not how they are obtained. This is also a type of long term memory.
• Procedural Memory: also known as muscle memory or habits. These long term memories are formed by repetition.
• Implicit memory: memory about patterns and regularity. These long term memories are leaned by engaging in the activities. Implicit memory works mainly at the unconscious level.
• Working memory: a short term memory holding knowledge needed for immediate processing. It is integrated with the information processing mechanism. Working memory also serves as a gateway to long term memories. It retrieves information from the long term memory units and selectively sends information to the latter for long term storage.
• Sensory memory: visual and audio sensory inputs are kept for a few seconds in these memories. Such inputs are available for a person to retrieve if he decides to pay attention to an event. Sensory memories are “flushed out” by new sensory inputs.
The next part of the book covers some common topics, such as conscious and subconscious, the role of sleep, memory development in childhood and in old ages, etc. Some less common topics include animal cognitive models, the neural network (related to artificial intelligence), brain damages, etc.
The third part of the book talks about false memories. Our memories are stored in separate pieces and are reassembled to form consistent narrative during retrieval. Therefore, the “reconstructed” knowledge is not very reliable. The book specifically talks about the sense of familiarity and the tendency of forming consistent stories. These subconscious factors may distort what we remember while still generate a sense of high confidence.
The last part of the book provides some more philosophical discourses. The main points of interest are:
• The more important goal is not remembering more, but remembering what is truly relevant and helpful.
• When we get older, our memory degrades concerning what we pay attention to. However, we remember more things we do not pay attention to. This may mean we become more creative.
Overall, this lecture is more informative than practical. It does not contain many pieces of advice on how to improve one’s memory. However, it provides an excellent framework for understanding human memory systems. Such a framework helps us to understand and judge memory-improvement advice from other sources.
A good summary of the lecture (chapter-by-chapter) can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of "The Great Lecture" series and truly great, I must say. What I don't know about memory now, well...I can't remember. I did takeaway the note that when people say they want to improve their memory, they're generally talking about their episodic memory. But things like crossword puzzles and Suduko only exercise their semantic memory, which doesn't decline all that much with age. Likewise your procedural memory (how to do things) doesn't decline much either although your ability to carry it out might.

If nothing else, the lecture reminds us of what most educated people already know--eyewitness testimony is horribly unreliable. But what we didn't know is that people tend to believe eyewitness testimony at an ridiculously high degree. "I saw the man in the black cap holding the gun," is, more often than not, a pure elaboration of an unreliable mind. It might have been a woman in a green cap with a banana.
And don't get him started on implanted memories. The scariest thing to realize is that people absolutely can't tell the difference between real memories, implanted ones, and ones that they have simply fabricated in their mind during the brain's attempt to add filler to the facts. If the facts are even true.

As to the lecture series, my memory tells me (hope that's right) that I enjoyed it tremendously. The only thing I didn't enjoy is the title--from the words "Human Lifespan" I'd fabricated the idea that it might touch on more than a single human's lifespan and instead talk about collective memory and even delve into anthropological questions. But none of that. "Human lifespan" means simply what happens as one person gets old--how does memory change? And he has an excellent section on Altzheimer's. With very sensible, practicable tips on managing patients.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Great Course with 24 lectures on Memory and the Human Lifespan. Memory is not just one thing, we have several types of memory-semantic memory, procedural memory, episodic memory, etc. When we say we want to improve our memory, which one are we talking about? The author covers how our memory changes over our lifetime and it does not necessarily decline as we age. Actually studies have shown that as we age, the majority of us begin to resemble memories of the most creative people. There are several times in our life when we have cognitive change-from infants to small children to teenager to young adults, etc. As we age usually our memory is better in the morning as our circadian rhythm also changes. A fascinating listen with ways to improve the memory we want to improve.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

These were a fine series of lectures chock-full of great information, but it wasn’t as good for me as I had hoped. Why? I think it’s because I had already encountered much of this information in the past. My memory is okay I guess. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty new here. I always learn something new. There just wasn’t as much new as I was hoping.

That having been said, Steve Joordens is an enjoyable and engaging lecturer. I would highly recommend this one to anyone interested in this subject.

[Eric Mortensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those interested in an introduction to mnemonic theories and a glimpse into how we study human memory for inspiration into how machine learning evolves I think that this is a very good book. What I would say is that I think that the written version may be better than the audiobook version since much of the first few chapters provides examples of memory tests and for me this would be easier to memorize from the written word.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part was the chapter about memory and aging. It was pretty revelatory. The whole lecture series is interesting, though there were certainly things I already knew, such as memory being unreliable and affecting witness testimony, but if nothing else, the section on aging is absolutely worth it (it's lecture #23).

[Nithin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing read.

[Graham Okely · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the 24 lecture guides. The lecture guides are concise, with key word definitions, further reading, and exercises. I found them interesting and easy to understand.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

very well structured and presented in a very engaging manner. I feel that, while I will not remember a large percentage of what was covered, I know substantially more than before. I will very, ver likely go through this material again

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good introduction into the current science of the human memory.

[Ralf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great lecture series about how memory works and how to improve it, with lots of real world examples and academic research.