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"Short, accessible primer on human memory, written by two leading psychological researchers"--
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 9, 2023
Currently in an experimental behavior econ class and feeling a little lost on some of the background about memory (especially associative memory research), so I thought it would be good to get a survey! Really good comprehensive no-boul-shit background on memory for anyone interested.
A few things I learned:
1. Retrieval is a form of learning - reactivating pathways that generate a representation in one's mind is both a retrieval mechanism, but a further engraining of that piece of information in your own personal neural network.
2. Working memory is quite sepearate from short-term memory. Working memory is literally the amount of information you can hold in your mind (e.g., a number of digits) in a given instance where as short-term memory is more drawn out.
3. Prospective memory is about remembering to do things that you told yourself in the past to do in the future. This is something that older adults are much better than younger adults at in practice, but is likely do to the fact that older adults are just better at using associative memory and other strategies to get themselves to be successful.
It seems to me that a lot of "becoming an adult" is learning how to navigate the shortcomings of one's own memory and "weaponizing" the unlimited storage we have that can be accessed by using the power of association. We just need to be intentional about our associations!
A few things I learned:
1. Retrieval is a form of learning - reactivating pathways that generate a representation in one's mind is both a retrieval mechanism, but a further engraining of that piece of information in your own personal neural network.
2. Working memory is quite sepearate from short-term memory. Working memory is literally the amount of information you can hold in your mind (e.g., a number of digits) in a given instance where as short-term memory is more drawn out.
3. Prospective memory is about remembering to do things that you told yourself in the past to do in the future. This is something that older adults are much better than younger adults at in practice, but is likely do to the fact that older adults are just better at using associative memory and other strategies to get themselves to be successful.
It seems to me that a lot of "becoming an adult" is learning how to navigate the shortcomings of one's own memory and "weaponizing" the unlimited storage we have that can be accessed by using the power of association. We just need to be intentional about our associations!
April 21, 2024
If you were to choose memories to keep, which ones would you keep?
The way human memory works is very interesting. We don't fully understand why we remember certain things, how we keep them in our brain, and lastly that we don't really have a good control of it.
The best analogy of memory to me was by Freud - it's like typing machine paper. The harder you press, the stronger print you get. What contributes to strength though? Is it a dream of real life? How did you feel about it?
It's a good book and definitely good topic!
The way human memory works is very interesting. We don't fully understand why we remember certain things, how we keep them in our brain, and lastly that we don't really have a good control of it.
The best analogy of memory to me was by Freud - it's like typing machine paper. The harder you press, the stronger print you get. What contributes to strength though? Is it a dream of real life? How did you feel about it?
It's a good book and definitely good topic!
September 30, 2023
I really enjoyed learning about the inner working of the memory and the research methods. It is dense with information but easy to read.
March 26, 2025
Didn't fully finish. Sometimes it feels unnecessary to finish a non-fiction book. Taught me a lot of cool things though, I think about it often.
November 4, 2025
Short but stocky. A lot of material to digest in this 100% information concentrate package.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews